It’s a strange thing, but for me the busiest month for birthdays is the month of May – well, actually, they start in April, with my father’s 95th this year, and roll on right to the end of May – which means there’s a lot of time spent in sending cards and buying presents. Thank goodness there was a lull between Christmas and the birthday season! But how special to be born in the nice weather. As a November baby, I probably didn’t get much of an airing unless I was wrapped up in layers of blankets, however, for summer babies it’s quite different. For them, it’s summer sunshine, fresh air and the sound of birds – and that all important birthday party that can be held outside.
But it’s not just human birthdays we remember in May, because it’s also considered to be the birthday of the Church, which falls on Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter, a festival with roots in the Jewish Festival of Weeks. Our birthdays are always on the same date, unlike the Church, because it’s a movable feast depending on when Easter falls. This year Easter was early, and so Pentecost will be on 19th May – so perhaps it’s not entirely true that Pentecost is a birthday, given that its date moves around every year!
Whatever we think, this is a major festival in the Church year, and it is defined by how, fifty days (the Greek term ‘Pentēkostē’ means fifty) after Jesus rose from the dead, the confused disciples who had gathered in Jerusalem experienced an incredible and momentous event, when the Holy Spirit, portrayed as a white dove, descended upon them. It was as Jesus had told them, when he appeared before them just before he ascended into heaven – and we celebrate that occasion, Ascension Day, this year on 9th May. Pentecost was the point that the disciples were commissioned to continue Christ’s work and because he was no longer in the flesh, they were given the gift of the Holy Spirit which enabled them to step out in faith and undertake his work.
On that first Pentecost, one wonders how those disciples were feeling. Confused – yes. Frightened – most likely. Trusting that Jesus would keep his word that he would send his ‘comforter’ – almost certain. In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2, this event is recounted thus:
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
It’s truly amazing how everyone understood what was being said, because the ‘comforter’ – the Holy Spirit that had been sent down by God – enabled this to happen, in order that the Good News of Jesus could be heard and understood by everyone. Not just a few, but Greek, Gentile, Roman, Arab – everyone.
This was the beginning of the Church born in the Spirit of God; the day the Holy Spirit came into the world and dwelt among us. It was the beginning of zeal, fortitude, and a tremendous trust in the Spirit of God that continues today in many forms. What an amazing and life-changing gift – and what a reason to celebrate!
Rev’d Lynda
The Rectory, Barrow.
Rev'd Lynda Sebbage
01284 811280
revlyndasebbage@gmail.com
RECTOR OF THE BARROW BENEFICE
Gt & Lt Saxham, Barrow, Risby & Denham
