May has always been one of my most favorite months: the air gets warmer but not too hot (most of the time), the grass is green, the leaves are out on the trees, and the flowers start to bloom in abundance. Of course, being the owner of two silver maple trees means that we have a lot of those little twirly-bird things to rake up, a fact my husband bemoans when it comes to keeping the gutters clear. But May means that spring is in full swing, with plants still fresh and young, and there is still the anticipation of a (hopefully) wonderful summer.
This year, May is also the month in which Pentecost falls. Pentecost, Greek for 'fiftieth', is celebrated on the fiftieth day of Easter. But Pentecost is not a feast day that was created by the Church-it was a Jewish feast day first, often called feast of Weeks or First Fruits. It was celebrated on the 50th day after the Sabbath during Passover, which means it fell on a Sunday. It was a day for giving thanks for the grain harvest, and gathering to give thanks and make offerings to God for God's good gifts and outpouring of the Spirit upon creation.
We as Christians celebrate Pentecost as a Principal Feast day of the Church (like Christmas, Easter, and Epiphany). It is now no longer just a harvest festival but a day to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples after Jesus' ascension, as record in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2. Remember? The disciples were all gathered, there was a rush of wind, and then divided tongues that appeared like flames rested upon each of them, and then wow! All were filled with the Holy Spirit and even began to speak other languages!
And then out they went to share the Good News. The Church was born-and 3,000 people were baptized that day! Talk about church growth-or to put it in Pentecost language, a great harvest!
We, too, as baptized persons of God have had the Holy Spirit poured out upon us as well. Many of us have not been given the gift of other languages, but we have all been given gifts to use for building up the Kingdom of God. We are called to bear fruit, just like the grain of the harvest. And like the growing plants of May, we are called to blossom and grow as members of the body of Christ, being rooted in God's love for us and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
So, this Pentecost, wear the color red in remembrance that you, too, have been born of the Holy Spirit, given new life in Christ. Remember your baptism as we recite the baptismal covenant once more, and rejoice in the fulfilled promise of Jesus to send us the gift of the Spirit to guide us, strengthen us, comfort us, and teach us. Let yourself grow in God, and bear fruit, like the plants of spring.
Come, Holy Spirit, Come!
Alleluia!