Pentecost is one of the ancient Christian observances based on Scripture. The name Pentecost comes from the Greek word for fifty. Greeking-speaking Jews applied this name to the "Feast of Weeks" which began 50 days after Passover. During this feast, weeks after Christ's resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ's disciples in a powerful new way and gave the timid followers of Jesus the strength to be His Church and to proclaim His Gospel. We see this event in today's reading from Acts 2.
On some lectionaries, the Gospel for this Pentecost Sunday is from John 7:37-39. In this short selection, Jesus promised that those who believed in Him would be refreshed with "rivers of living water." The evangelist adds that this referred to the Holy Spirit who would come after Jesus was glorified.
This teaching gives valuable insight into the varied workings of the Holy Spirit among believing Christians. The Spirit can certainly mean many things for Christian teaching, witness, and life, but one of the important functions of the Holy Spirit is to refresh believers like fresh, life-giving water. So may our observance of Pentecost be refreshing for our souls!
