This coming weekend, the Church celebrates Pentecost. Many identify this day as the “birthday” of the Church. On the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit fills his disciples as they are locked away in Jerusalem.

Ten days before, Jesus ascended to the Father with a promise that God would send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with them. The second chapter of the book of Acts records the events of the day. The disciples are gathered when a sound like a strong wind fills the room they are in. Then divided tongues, which appeared like fire landed on each of the disciples. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages foreign to them.

The day of this occurrence was a Jewish festival called Shavuot. This commemoration marks the anniversary of God giving the Torah to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. This happens fifty days after Passover. Because of this celebration, Jerusalem brimmed with visitors from throughout the world.

It is into this cosmopolitan crowd that the disciples burst from the security of their house and began talking to all those in ear shot about Jesus in languages they could understand. Because of their preaching and the sharing of the Spirit, many came to have faith in Jesus.

Martin Luther, as he explains the third article of the Apostles’ Creed in his Small Catechism, states: the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

Today, nearly two thousand years since the first Pentecost and five hundred years since Luther taught, the Church continues to pray for the Holy Spirit’s presence and guidance.

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. John Tabaka is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Monroe