Isaiah prophetically proclaimed that the Spirit of the Lord shall rest on Him.
"There shall come forth a rod
out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise
up out of his root and the Spirit of the Lord
shall rest upon Him; the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding,
the Sprit of Counsel and of Fortitude,
the Spirit of Knowledge and of Godliness (piety).
And he shall be filled with the Spirit of the fear of the Lord."
(Isaiah 11:1-3)
Pentecost comes from the Greek word for “fiftieth” (pentecoste). Pentecost is the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday.
In the Old Testament the Jewish people celebrated the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot (in Hebrew), the Feast of Harvest, or the Feast of First Fruits. It began on the Sabbath Day after Passover and it was celebrated for 7 consecutive weeks. God wanted the Jewish people to be holy and get closer to Him. Day 50 or Pentecost ended this celebration.
The Holy Spirit is symbolized in Acts 2:1-11 as wind and fire. "noise like a strong driving wind" and "tongues as of fire". Water in Baptism signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit's actions.
The disciples were given the Holy Spirit before by Jesus, and, they were told to remain in Jerusalem to receive “a power” from the Holy Spirit. This day, Pentecost, is the birthday of the Church. Mary was present with the apostles. The apostles were blessed with the gift of tongues to speak in different languages to spread the Word of God.
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit were given to the apostles. We receive them with greater or lesser intensity in Confirmation after becoming a member of Jesus Christ through Baptism.
We receive the gifts as the Holy Spirit gives. Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord. The gifts need to be cultivated; our souls need to exercise the basic virtues with the gifts.
The virtues are put in motion aided by faith and grace. The gifts are set in motion by the Holy Spirit and will operate only if the Holy Spirit deigns.
This Solemnity of Pentecost makes us remember and relive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the other disciples as well as our Confirmation.
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