Ascension to Pentecost
The story of the period between the Ascension of Christ and the Descent of the Holy Spirit is covered in the first chapters of the Book of Acts. The book (written by St. Luke), opens with the account of Christ’s Ascension. The disciples gather on Mt. Olivet, very near Jerusalem, and “while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Act 1:9) But they had been clearly instructed by Christ to remain in Jerusalem and wait. At a point in time that He did not make clear, they were told they would receive “power from on High.” That promise was fulfilled ten days after the Ascension on what is now called the Feast of Pentecost. And with that Divine Empowerment, the life of the New Testament Church began in earnest.
That fledgling community included the 11 (Judas no longer being among them), a number of women, including Mary, “the Mother of Jesus,” as well as Christ’s “brethren,” and others (altogether about 120 according to Acts) remained together and offered “prayers and supplications.” During the period of waiting, they chose one of their number, Matthias, to take the place of the fallen Judas.
It is very striking that St. Luke twice describes this small community as “being of one accord.” Their shared unity was a common witness of the resurrected Christ. This small band was among those who had seen the fruit of Pascha. St. Paul says that Christ made one of His resurrection appearances to “over 500 brethren at one time.” Surely this 120 had been among them.
Their common faith burst forth in power on the Day of Pentecost when over 3000 souls were “added to their number.”
On a crowded Sunday, we pack over 130 into St. Anne. We receive the same Holy Spirit that they received. We eat the same Eucharist that they ate. God give us grace to be faithful witnesses in our world as the Lord “adds daily to our number those who are being saved” (Acts 2:47).
The Vigil of the Feast of the Ascension is this Wednesday evening at 6:30. The Divine Liturgy for the Feast will be served on Thursday morning at 8.
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