FATHER ANDREW GALL Celebrating a season full of joy

The Eastern Orthodox Church is in the season of a book called the Pentecostarian. This time of the year, between Pascha and Pentecost and even one week beyond, has a very joyful theme. The faithful are filled with enthusiasm. The Feast of the Resurrection of Christ is the first day of this season. For 40 days, the greeting of "Christ is Risen!" is proclaimed with the response being, "Indeed, he is risen!"
On Pascha, we hear of John the Baptist, who came to bear witness to the light and give testimony about Jesus Christ. In the following weeks, we hear about St. Thomas and the myrrh-bearing women who were full of doubts and fears, yet they were instructed to believe and to tell the good news to others. This is how the early church grew, as recorded in the Book of Acts.
The theme of living waters is another chord t†hroughout this joyful season. We hear about the paralytic who was healed by the Messiah at the pool called Bethesda. What is known as Mid-Pentecost occurs on the following Wednesday; it is the midpoint of the feast. At this time, we pray, refresh out thirsty souls with the stream of piety, and, again, draw the water of immortality. Next is the lesson about a Samaritan woman talking to the Lord at Jacob's Well about theology and her life experiences. We then hear about the blind man healed by Jesus as he washed in the pool of Siloam and could then see. Water also reminds us of our Baptism when we began our life in Christ.
Asked to testify
On Ascension Thursday, we hear from the Lord, "Ye shall be my witnesses ... unto the uttermost part of the earth. As a witness in a court of law, we are asked to testify. The paralytic, the Samaritan woman and the blind man all gave their testimony to what they had experienced.
During this season, the Church has readings from the book of Acts of the Apostles. This book tells us of the early Church and how it grew in those years. One might think this book is about all of the apostles and their actions. However, the first half tells us about St. Peter and the second half tells us about St. Paul. The book of Acts might be thought of as the Acts of the Holy Spirit. This is because the Holy Spirit within Sts. Peter and Paul was the driving force of their ministry. Notice this book does not have an amen at the end as it continues on in the life of the Church today.
The Sunday after Ascension is dedicated to the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. The Nicean Creed was begun by this council. The Gospel reading on this day is from John 17, "I pray not only for them but for those who believe through them."
The theme of living water is once again introduced at the feast of Pentecost. The Gospel this Sunday is from John 7:37b, "If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink." During this worship service we sing, as we did on Holy Pascha, "as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, Alleluia."
All Saints are commemorated on the Sunday after Pentecost. They were baptized with the water and the spirit and followed Christ. This Gospel reading, which is the conclusion of the Pentecostarian, is from Matthew 10:32-33, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven."
XFather Andrew Gall of Liberty is a supply priest with the Ukrainian Church U.S.A.