You're Speaking My Language

The Day of “Pentecost,” from the Greek word “Pentēkostē” mean fiftieth, and in the Jewish tradition is Shavuot, literally translated “weeks.” Shavuot happens fifty days after the first day of Passover, and was first a thanksgiving for the first-fruits of the wheat harvest, and later celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. It is also known as Atzeret, which means “assembly,” and in the Talmud, is the only name by which the Shavuot holiday is called. It was celebrated as a solemn assembly and holy convocation, which is one of the reasons we celebrate Confirmation on this Sunday. I’ve taught Confirmation for may years, with hundreds of students, and although the good news of the gospel never changes, the ways in which the message is shared often does. One of the many blessings of the Pentecost is that on that day, God gave life to the church, and speaks our language in doing so.