When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place
Acts 2:1

Dear Friends,

Pentecost is a day that we share with our Jewish brothers and sisters.  They call the 50th day after Passover "Shavu'ot" (The Festival of Weeks), and it is a remembrance of God giving the Torah or law to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai.  We call the 50th day after Easter "Pentecost", and it is a remembrance of God giving the Holy Spirit to the disciples gathered in Jerusalem.

The website Judaism 101 entry on Shavu'ot says, "It is noteworthy that the holiday is called the time of the giving of the Torah, rather than the time of the receiving of the Torah.  The sages point out that we are constantly in the process of receiving the Torah, that we receive it every day, but it was first given at this time.  Thus it is the giving, not the receiving, that makes this holiday significant." (www.jewfaq.org/holidayc.htm)

What is said about the giving of the Torah is true of the other gifts that God gives us.  On Easter God gave the gift of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  But we are constantly in the process of receiving this gift, discovering signs of resurrection in the world around us and burying those who have died in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life.  In the same way, the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost to Jesus' first disciples.  But we are constantly receiving the Holy Spirit in our life together as Jesus' disciples today.  Like our Jewish brothers and sisters, we too receive God's word each time we read or hear the Bible.

This Pentecost we will celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit, as Bishop Marshall comes for Confirmation.  The prayer that is said when a baptized person makes a mature affirmation of faith and is confirmed reminds us that receiving the Holy Spirit is a continual process in our lives: "Defend, O Lord, your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more, until they come to your everlasting kingdom." (Book of Common Prayer, p. 418)

This Easter season may we know the joy and hope of continually receiving the resurrected life of Jesus Christ.  On Pentecost may we join, with those who are being confirmed and received into the Episcopal Church, in receiving the strengthening grace of the Holy Spirit.  Then may we carry that joy and grace out, as we go forth into the world rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.  Alleluia, Alleluia!

Faithfully,