#52 “Pentecost Meditation”

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION REFLECTIONS 

May 13, 2016 #52  “ Pentecost Meditation”

Reflections on John Main and Laurence Freeman’s Christian Meditation Lectures  

Presented by The World Community for Christian Meditation

www.wccm.org or www.wccm-usa.org

by Mary Sargent

The Hebrew word Torah, means “instruction or teaching.” The Torah was given by God exactly 50 days after the crossing of the Red Sea.  Shavuot (Pentecost) is called the season of giving because this is the day that God revealed Himself to the people of Israel on Mount Sinai.

Jesus (Yeshua) was resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits (Easter Sunday).  50 days after his resurrection, the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) came to dwell in the hearts and lives of all believers.  (Acts 1:8; 2:1-18; Luke 24:49).

Pentecost, like all of Christianity has its roots in Judaism.  Shavout, the Jewish Holiday equivalent occurs exactly fifty days after Passover.  It is a holiday when dairy foods, like cheese blitzes are served. Dairy foods are associated with the loving, nurturing generosity given by a mother nursing her baby. It is this love that we connect to on the anniversary of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Meditating on Pentecost is very powerful.  We, who follow Christ, want the empowerment, conviction and courage given to The Apostles in that upper room on the first Pentecost, in order to spread Christ’s  teachings in our own individual ways.  We strive to keep Christ’s three most important commandments faithfully:  To love God, love one another and to be peaceful (“Peace be with you.”).  We know that by keeping these three commandments, we will be keeping the other seven and then some.  But how can we have the strength to keep on when we are feeling down?  How can we have the power to break a bad habit that we have failed to shake again and again?  How can we keep our minds from inventing things at be worried about?  The answer is prayer and meditation.

In the old days (pre – 1966) The Holy Spirit was called “The Holy Ghost.”  To children, it seemed scary, or like the TV cartoon, Casper, the Friendly Ghost. Praying to the Holy Spirit is esoteric and mysterious.    Begin with the words, Come Holy Spirit.  Then try and follow wherever you think the Spirit is leading you.

This Pentecost, just for a few minutes, try to imagine yourself in the Upper Room.  Try and hear the wind and see the flaming tongues of fire.  Close your eyes and feel the Holy Spirit giving you The Fruits of the Holy Spirit:  charity, generosity, joy, gentleness, peace, faithfulness, patience, modesty, kindness, self- control, goodness and chastity.   With these fruits, we can cope with anything life throws at us.