Tag: Pentecost

Pentecost is here! We celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. These men and women had locked themselves inside since the Ascension of Jesus, but with the prompting of the Holy Spirit they burst out and start preforming miracles in the street. The early church goes from a few hidden followers of Christ, to a group of people spreading the good news around the world. Interestingly, Pentecost marks the end of the Easter Season, and the beginning of “Ordinary time.” This makes me wonder if the “ordinary” life of the people of the church should be walking through the streets working miracles?

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Traditionally, this would have been celebrated last Thursday (40 days after Easter), but in resent times the observants has been moved to the Sunday before Pentecost. The Ascension must have been a frightening time for those first followers of Christ. Just when they thought that they had Jesus back after he rose on Easter, he leaves them again. Now, seeing him rise on a cloud was probably not as traumatic as seeing him crucified on a cross, but none the less today’s reading leave him standing there staring up into the sky. Next week, we will hear that they spent the next ten days locked inside their house.