COME HOLY SPIRIT AND HEAL YOUR WOUNDED CHURCH

Too much babbling of prayers and not much listening to God trying to reason with us!

The Lord then spoke onto them saying: “I am the light that illumines the world that revolves in darkness – they who hear my voice and enthrone it in their hearts will never be overcome by the delusion of darkness for they too will glow with the light that I have bestowed on them!” (Jn 8: 12)

Pentecost or Shavuot (the festal weeks) from our Hebrew past was a feast in thanksgiving for the new harvest where such (the first fruits) were offered onto God at the temple. This event also recalls within our faith when the Lord was presented to the temple as an infant.

The offering requirement (Lev: 22) made by Joseph and Mariam was two turtle doves (Lk 2:22-40) – yet the Lord who is the first fruits (God the Son) was presented as the offering; the offerer and the offered as we pray in rite of Holy Communion.

It was also a day of solemnity commemorating Divine Law bestowed us via the Commandments (Mitzvah) and it is interesting to note that the first two commandments heard directly from God form part of the Great morning and evening prayer given to Moses by the Lord on Mount Sinai:

The Shema Israel (the prayer of listening and affirming) as recorded in Deuteronomy (6:4-9,11:13-21) and Numbers (15:37-41) at which the Lord affirms with the new commandment which hallows and receives the divine presence wholeheartedly via unconditional love (Jn 13:34)

Hence, other commandments in formative times were furnished in covering various aspects of life containing 613 observations of law called Torah (Law of Moses) which was recorded in the Talmud. Hence acts of charity and holiness (Mitzvot Aseh) 613 in number and acts that transgress that which is good and holy (Mitzvot Io Taaseh) tallying to 365 – a number marking the days of the solar year and the amount of organs in the human body.

In the Exodos and the Acts, it is worth noting that when the Lord’s presence descended upon the mountain – wind, fire, and cloud was the physical manifestation for in the Old Testament, the Lord was present in these elements.

Whilst within the New Testament, the description recounts the Lord been taken up via the cloud at the ascension and a hurricane like wind filling the room - tongues of flame as the grace of the Spirit was imparted upon the apostles and disciples gathered in heights of that upper room fifty days after Pascha/Easter.

One of the Early Fathers (Apostolic Fathers) of the Church St Irenaeus the bishop of Lyon (130-202AD) once gave a rather nourishing homily upon the season of Pentecost. He describes thus as: the dew which descends as water upon the parched earth – rendering its terrain ever fertile!

The Feast of Pentecost commemorates those events all hallowing which ushers a sense of renewal, reshaping and grace filling all accomplishments via our prayer as and with the Communion of Saints. Hence, the Church that encompasses each generation and timeframe aiding our spiritual growth towards God via Theosis (been drawn into God) nourishing our very persona and Church Community.

The Renewal of the Church – as we have seen from afar, this may not be the picture we have witnessed in the last few months; the raging thirteenth century ecclesial territorial disputes in the Balkans dividing Eastern Christendom! One would rightly say: “Where is the Holy Spirit in all this?” The answer quite simply is: “The Holy Spirit does not abide where hatred, envy, jealousy and strife reside!” This statement of course would abhor those who are guilty - claiming divine mandate.

Furthermore, when one is in the depths of ecclesial politics and has not accustomed to a hard lining of the stomach – sickness may linger with the temptation of opting out! We have a wonderful word in the Italian tongue MARIONETTE (puppets) yet there is nothing amusing about it especially when we see high ranking clergy taking oaths to defend the truth, the Church, and her people and betray them immediately after for status, commodity, and prestige.

In short – most supposed Orthodox Patriarchates who consider themselves Canonical (lawful) have truly besmirched the faith, re-crucified the Lord, butchered his people, and play the God theatrics! In Orthodoxy, there is no such thing as a pope or a sole Church having status over others….all are equal and are to render such respect onto each other.

Yet, just as Satan tried to fool the Lord’s humanity in the desert wanting to give him power and wealth which were not his to give; these church men have fallen in his trap yet again as we see such trappings in the history of Eastern and Western Christendom!

Where do we all stand? Apart from many people leaving their practice of religion or even the faith of thus – it is easy opting out and rightfully declaring to decline in belonging to such a circus which has become a sick joke. Yet, for those of us who will not yield and desire to stand our ground; the hymn of the kyriale (Lord, have mercy) is constant for we believe that the Lord will bring about change at the right time, with the right people according to wholehearted sincerity!

Therefore, today is not as people think “the birthday of the Church” for the Lord clearly states in the account of the Apostle Matthew that: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. (Mt 5:17) Rather, it is the continuing Church that has been given authority to have true epiclesis “calling upon the Holy Spirit” to: mend that which is broken, heal that which is infirm, and bring to completion that which is lacking!

Thus, it is not about withstanding the end until the Lord comes again, (as portrayed by many cult mentalities) rather, it is awaiting the power from on high (the Holy Spirit) to descend on them and bestow what is lacking in order to fulfil the gospel mission; it’s interesting that the Latin word for the Greek Eucharist (Eukariston); praiseworthy thanksgiving; is Mass (Missa); our call to mission amongst others!

Hence, our Father amongst the hierarchs Irenaeus of Lyon once again recalls this sublime event of the Pentecost unveiling within the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37) where God comes to visit our brokenness and heals our infirmities and pays for our safekeeping via his mercy as shepherd.

In conclusion, St Gregory Palamas (1296 – 1359AD) gives us a marvellous testament on the tongues of fire within the same homily in verse 7 where he unveils:

“Why did the Holy Spirit appear in the form of tongues? It was to demonstrate that He shared the same nature as the Word of God, for there is no relationship closer than that between word and tongue. It was also because of teaching, since teaching Christ’s gospel needs a tongue full of grace.......although the text runs; “tongues like fire” this is so that we may comprehend that the spirit manifested himself with the glow of fire as prescribed in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Hebrew Church:

“Therefore, since we are receiving the kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks via the Anaphora offered onto God as the acceptable worship in all reverence and awe for the Most High is the consuming fire!”(Heb 12:28-29)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2: 1-4)