Upper Room Experience
Pentecost is the realization that God’s very life, breath and energy lives – in, with and among us. It is the moment of experiencing God’s presence here on earth.
The word Pentecost in Greek simply means ‘fiftieth”. For the Israelites, Pentecost was the feast celebrated on the fiftieth day after the feast of Passover, also known as the feast of the weeks. The people of Israel celebrated this feast of Pentecost to thank God for choosing them as His “Own People” and to offer the first produce of the Land. For Christians, it is the occasion to thank God for gifting us His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and choosing us to be the bearers of life and love.
Through the event of Pentecost, old errors are amended and new life is promised. This event is the sign of new creation or re-creation in God. The same Spirit which hovered over the formless chaotic universe brought order, life and purpose (Gen 1: 2). Pentecost further signifies an act of restoration which was divided at the tower of Babel because of human desire for power and control (Gen 11: 1- 9) – with the coming of the Holy Spirit people learn to understand each other through love. Pentecost recreates the event of giving the new commandment – now through the Holy Spirit we understand the Law of God in our hearts. It also stands for the creation of the Church – “we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Pet 2: 9).
In order to have the experience of God in our lives through the down-pouring of the Holy Spirit, we are invited to go to the Upper Room and pray in communion with the Apostles. The Church that is born in the Upper Room testifies to the creative and renewing presence of God through its works. Since the church is born of the Holy Spirit, the believers who live in union with the Spirit should be able to experience Pentecost every day of their lives. Pentecost, therefore, stands for experiencing the loving embrace of God in a community of love.
-Fr. Ranjan D’Sa, OCD