Pentecost, a celebration of the spirit, is upon us

Fifty days after Holy Pascha, or Easter, Orthodox Christians celebrate the holy feast day of Pentecost. On Sunday, we will celebrate the fullness of the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given to the apostles of Christ in the upper room in Jerusalem so many years ago. Traditionally, Pentecost has been considered to be the birthday of the Christian church.
Scripture tells us that our Lord came to the apostles on the evening of the Resurrection and gave them the first gift of the Holy Spirit. While they hid in fear in their room, strange tales had come to them about the resurrection of Jesus. To these despairing disciples, Jesus came and breathed on them, and gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 20:19-23).
The Apostles
The Holy Spirit strengthened them in their lack of faith and in their doubt after the Crucifixion of Christ. The apostles were given the strength to endure those tragic days after the dreadful events of Golgotha. They were given the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they might be encouraged to preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. And they also were given the authority on earth to forgive sins (John 20:23). And yet at the same time, they were commanded to remain in that upper room. The time was spent in prayer, in preparation for the vigorous work that lay before them.
When that first Pentecost came 50 days later, those same apostles were given the fullness of the Holy Spirit. As Scripture says, "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4). They left the upper room and moved with great courage among the people preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, and they were met with great success.
Many people had turned to Christ after hearing those words of life. They believed in Christ Jesus and were baptized. Three thousand people joined the apostles in a fellowship of belief on that first Pentecost (Acts 2:41). And the church as we know it was born on that very day. It was, to be sure, a most auspicious beginning.
Modern times
Today, sadly, many do much to quench the flame of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Instead of nurturing and cherishing the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given to them in baptism, they live and act in ways to banish the Holy Spirit from their lives.
Some have built a stout wall of murder and greed around themselves as if God were too far away to even notice. Some have adorned themselves with the black garb of abortion and strut around in it proudly as if they wore the bright white of a wedding dress instead.
Some have erected their mansion on a foundation of lies, and now they wonder why there is so much anguish and fear in their lives. They have driven the Holy Spirit from among themselves. And now, once again, as in those days in the upper room in Jerusalem, they dwell in fear and terror.
Today, we should not content ourselves only with celebrating this major feast day of the Orthodox church. Rather, our most important task is to make a substantial effort to renew the Spirit within us by changing our lives. We should strive to enkindle the flame of the Holy Spirit in our lives by tearing down the squalid wall of sin that we have erected -- a wall that we have erected between ourselves and God.
We should remove all the worldly debris that fills our hearts and make room for the Most Holy Spirit. We should sweep our homes clean and prepare a suitable place for our guest. We should make the temple of our bodies a fitting place for the Holy Spirit.
On this Holy Pentecost, let us warmly welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives. Let us open the windows of our hearts to let sanctity shine through the curtains so that once again we, too, might be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Deacon William E. Friedel is assigned to St. Michael Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church, 125 Steel St., Youngstown.