He is still on His throne! He sees! He knows! He’s working even when all we see is a blank space! Easter Story ScripturesĪll four of the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John, give account of the Easter Story. He is still moving mountains on our behalf. May we never forget that in our blank spaces we have a mighty God that is still in the miracle business. But, it is in this blank space that the greatest miracle is taking place. It’s quiet, things seem hopeless, and it appears that nothing will ever change. Have you ever lived in a “blank space” moment? It is in this blank space that things seem to be quiet and nothing is happening. It is in this blank space of waiting that hope can be found though. Can you imagine how Jesus' followers must have felt waiting those hours and days between the cross and the empty tomb? Waiting is hard! The Bible has a wide array of verses and passages that speak of the Holy Spirit below is a sampling of Pentecost-related passages.Easter brings hope to our everyday lives as well as for a future heavenly home with God. An admirable endeavor! Perhaps reading the Bible all night long is not a feasible option for many, but maybe reading just 50 verses is. Nowadays, many Jewish people celebrate the Old Testament Pentecost, now commonly called “Shavu‛ot” (sha-voo-OT) -meaning “weeks” - by reading the Torah all night. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us of the “Spirit connection” from Resurrection to Pentecost: “On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at Pentecost” (1287). And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were (Acts 2:1-2).Įnriched and enabled by the Holy Spirit, they went out and performed many wonders while proclaiming the good news of Jesus. Because of this timing, the word “Pentecost” became the word used to mark the day commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the 50th day from Easter (both Easter and Pentecost are counted, creating a full 50 days): “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. The Holy Spirit (sometimes also called the Advocate, Paraclete or Counselor) was indeed sent, on the day that the Jewish people happened to be celebrating their Pentecost. In the New Testament, Jesus gave plenty of promises that the Holy Spirit would be sent down to assist and guide his followers on earth, including: “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8). Then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord” (Leviticus 23:16). The word “Pentecost” is derived from Greek-speaking Jews who called the day penētkostē (Greek for 50th), for the Old Testament Pentecost was 50 days from the first day of Passover: “… you shall count to the day after the seventh week, 50 days. So, the Old Testament feast of Pentecost is sometimes also called the feast of the Law of Moses. Traditions assert that this event likely happened on the date set aside for Pentecost. 70, many Jewish people began to attach an additional focus to this feast: a recalling of the Law being presented by God on Mount Sinai. Sometime after the destruction of the second Temple in A.D. This original Pentecost is an Old Testament agricultural feast where the ancient Jews offered loaves of bread from the first fruits of their spring wheat harvest to the Lord. The Catholic feast of Pentecost actually has strong Jewish roots religious obligations found in both Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
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