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Pentecost, the 50 day
May

The Great Three Days lasts from sunset Holy Thursday to sunset Easter Day. During
that time, we celebrate the saving events of Jesus Christ’s suffering, death, and
resurrection. Early Christians fasted then celebrated in a single liturgy beginning
Saturday night until the dawn of Easter Day. This was known as the great Paschal
(Easter) Vigil, the most holy and joyful night of the entire Christian year.
The Easter (Paschal) Vigil has both historic and symbolic roots in the Jewish
Passover. This is why so many images are from the Old Testament and why so many
analogies are experienced in Christ. During this time we experience the passage from
slavery to freedom, from sin to salvation, from death to life. On Easter morning, Stone
Chapel traditionally has a semi-predawn service followed by a festive breakfast. The
service begins while it is still dark so as to experience the transition from darkness to
light, since we celebrate God’s saving work in Christ through the symbols of light, word,
water, and the heavenly banquet.
The most joyous season of the Christian year is the Great Fifty Days from sunset
Easter Eve through the Day of Pentecost (which is tomorrow). Christians focus on
Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, on the Holy Spirit and on the Day of Pentecost.
Because the early church is the best witness to the Resurrection, Christians read from the
Book of the Acts of the Apostles instead of reading the Old Testament Scriptures during
services. The United Methodist Book of Worship also states: the ancient Christian name
for this festival is Pasch, derived from the Hebrew pesah (“deliverance” or “passover”),
this connecting the Resurrection to the Exodus. Pentecost comes from the Greek
pentekoste, which means “fiftieth.” It refers to the Jewish Feast of the Weeks (Hebrew-
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Shavuot), which Greek-speaking Jews called the Day of Pentecost (the 50 and last day
of the Easter Season, when the Church receives the gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 2:1-42).
Picture this scene: the apostles and others have gathered in Jerusalem on the day of
Pentecost. “Suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind…
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the
Spirit gave them ability.” (Acts 2:1-4 NRSV) - i.e., in languages understood by Jews and
proselytes from many nations. The apostle Peter interpreted this event as a fulfillment of
the prophecy of Joel 2:8-32. As a result, about 3,000 persons were added to the group of
believers. Prior to this in Acts 1:8, the risen Jesus had said, “You shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; …” On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit
did in deed come upon the apostles and empowered them to witness to Jesus the Christ.
The United Methodist symbol: ‘the Cross with a tongue of fire’ originated from these
verses.