NEBAB #41: Pentecost: The Coming of the Holy Spirit

 NEBAB #41

The Orthodox Tewahedo Magazine

PENTECOST: THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT


The Spiritual Education Unit

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Archdiocese of the Caribbean and Latin America



Christ rose from the dead!
By great power and authority!

He bound Satan,
Freed Adam!

Peace!
Henceforth,

Let there be-
Happiness and Peace!


In this issue:
Gospel:
St John 14:1-21

    1. Friends of the Bridegroom

    2. Ascension and Pentecost

    3. Faith and works

    4. “Ask Abba/Kes”

    5. A Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam

    6. Children’s corner

    7.ይበል ግዕዝ 

    8. Orthodox Q&A


Commentary on the Gospel:
St John 14:1-2
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

Our Lord tells us that we should not be troubled. The mansions of which He assures us are a reward for our trouble which we suffer. When a runner struggles in a marathon, they are encouraged to continue only by the knowledge that their struggle will end in the glory of their medal. We learn a type of this when we fast, and our bodies suffer for a time, after which we are comforted with the meal by which we break our fast. Our Lord comforted the hearts of His apostles by reminding them of the reward which would follow their struggle.

When our Lord says He goes to prepare a place for us, He speaks of the cross. He does not treat the cross as some new things for us- but the place of the cross was prepared as soon as Adam sinned. Let not your hearts be troubled- because you are called to suffer, to be martyrs, to carry the cross. 

Finally, let not your hearts be troubled. You will never carry the cross by your own strength. You can only ever reach the place of your calling by believing in the Father, through His Son Jesus Christ, by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Do not be troubled or surprised by your shortcomings, because God is not surprised when you fall short. If you are surprised, if you are troubled, if you are unprepared for your own weakness, you will fall once and never recover. Work on your faith in God (living faith, made perfect by works, and without works- dead) and your faith will fill in the gaps. This is what our Lord means when He says "You believe in God, believe also in Me." and "without Me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

May we hear the words of life!

 
Friends of the Bridegroom

Why does our Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, with her calendar filled with fasting, refuse to fast during this 50 day season of the Resurrection? Why is it that as soon as this 50 day period of rejoicing ends, we go back to fasting again? And what is the purpose of this coming fast- the Fast of the Apostles?

In Matthew 9:14-15, our Lord outlines the order of fasting and feasting of our church. He asks John's disciples "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?" During the 50 day feast of the Resurrection, we believe that this is more than a simple remembrance, but that we are truly living the reality of our Risen Lord being with us. This season, then, is a season of rejoicing, as we participate in the glory of the Resurrection, the comfort we are given after the struggle of our long fasting. And if anyone asks, "why do you not fast even one day during this season? Don't you know the benefit of fasting?", our Lord has given us our answer.

"But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast". As soon as we finish our 50 day feast, we will return to fasting. There is a time for everything, and of all the things St Solomon juxtaposes when he teaches us this, if we have one without recognising and fulfilling the need for the other, we will suffer the consequences of imbalance. It is commonly known that our Lord ascended into heaven on the 40th day, so why does our fasting begin after the 50th day? For this it is necessary to understand the importance of the 10 days between our Lord's ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Before our Lord ascended from before His children, He promised that He would not leave us orphans, but would send to us the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father. Between the ascension of the Son on the 40th day and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the 50th day, was the promise broken? Of course not! God is not slack concerning His promises (2nd Peter 3:9), but was still with the apostles, having ascended from before their eyes, but being found by them in their hearts. During these 10 days, He prepared them to receive the Holy Spirit by perfecting them in righteousness, through the 10 spiritual ranks/degrees that the saints attain.

On the 50th day, they received the Holy Spirit, but before going out into the world to fulfill the great commission, they fasted 40 days. Our Lord taught us that we can do nothing without Him, and the Fast of the Apostles is how we put that teaching into practice. The apostles' fasting prepared them for the work of establishing the church, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, and introducing Jesus Christ to the unsaved, like the prophets' fasting prepared them to receive the Incarnate Word and Moses' fasting prepared him to receive the law from God. Let us never forget the purpose of this Fast of the Apostles.


Ascension and Pentecost

In the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen
In our Church's tradition, the Feast of Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after the resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The word "Pentecost" coming from the Greek word, "pentekoste" meaning "fiftieth." In the Jewish tradition, this feast, known as the Feast of weeks, was also celebrated 50 days after the exodus from Egypt celebrating the giving of the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

In this new birth of the church, ecclesia or assembly, Pentecost marks a significant moment for us. The day which the Holy Spirit descended upon the Holy Apostles in the upper room of Zion. When Christ ascended into heaven 10 days prior, on the 40th day following the resurrection, he told the disciples in Luke 24:48 - end. "And you are witnesses of these things. Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

This marks a significant moment between Christ's ascension and the love of the Father who poured out His Holy Spirit for all mankind so that we through the Son can be in fellowship with Him just as the Son is in fellowship with the Father. For this work to be completed, the Son must ascend to the Father where He sits at His right hand. This sitting at the right hand of the Father signifies the completion of the Son's mission which is the taking on of flesh, the death in the body, the resurrection and the placing of all mankind back into paradise where Christ sits and dwells. This movement of ascension and descent is a mystery of partaking of both the Father's love and the Son's. Fr Matta El Meskeen, in the book Ascension and Pentecost describes this love-relationship in the following expression:

"Hence Christ's work did not end with his ascension and sitting at the right hand of glory in the highest, for it was not possible that Christ should be content or that "his joy might be complete" unless his economy were fulfilled by seeing humanity acquiring a fellowship with the Father, as an eternal relationship, love and adoption equal to what he procured for us in the body of his humanity" see John 17:13.

On the day of Pentecost humanity discarded the old man and received the mystery of the Father, the Father having introduced us into fellowship with Him which is, by grace, of the sort existing, by nature, between Him and His beloved Son. So much so that the Holy Spirit has come to transmit to us the Father's private talk with His Son, the talk of pure divine love: "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on Hus own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come... He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine." - John 13:13- 15

Thus the Holy Spirit initiated us into the secret of the Father's fellowship with the Son.
"Now we have received not the spirit of the world , but the spirit which is from God that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God" - 1 Cor 2:9-12

As St. Gregory the Theologian said "The Spirit comes gently and makes Himself known by His fragrance. He is not felt as a burden for God is light, very light" - Oration 41 on Pentecost
And St. John Chrysostom says: "The Apostles were made instruments of the Spirit. See how they were transformed. They stood as lambs and now they are like lions. This is the grace of the spirit." (Homily on Acts 2)

And finally, Saint Paul exhorts... "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again t ofear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."


Faith and Works:
Body, mind and heart

The 10 days from Ascension to Pentecost have much significance. One of the reasons for these 10 days was so that the apostles could attain 10 ranks/levels of righteousness which the saints attain in their path to unity with God.

Purity of the Body
1. Silence (of the mouth first, then the heart)
2. Understanding
3. Sweetness of song (where we never get tired of worshipping)

Purity of the Soul (Mind)
4. Tears (of joy and repentance)
5. Governance (the desires of the flesh are governed and subject to those of the soul)
6. Love (for all people and things that God created, no fear of anything)
7. Visions (not limited by space)

Purity of the Heart (Desire)
8. To see the angels
9. To see the Uncreated Light
10. To become gods by grace (being one with the Divine Fire) (Ps 82:6, John 10:34-35)

During this Fast of the Apostles, start by working on silence. This does not only mean silencing our own mouths- but work on silencing our senses. Thanks to the internet, we are almost constantly seeing and hearing things. Let us learn the value in turning off these stimuli. We should use our eyes and ears to satisfy our soul, and do a little less of the things that satisfy our flesh. Maybe you can commit to 15 minutes of silence at night or on your lunch break when you would usually scroll on social media. See the difference it makes.


Ask Abba/Kes

"What is the relation of Christ's breathing of the Holy Spirit on his disciples after the Resurrection to the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost?"

The relationship is strong, and that the one complemented the other. The work of the Son which He fulfilled by incarnation and redemption ends at the new creation 1 Pet 1:3. On this creation born after His image, he breathed His life giving Holy Spirit that it (creation) might live, in His capacity as the Creator, Son and Adam the Second. But as the perfection of this creation had to be accomplished by the work of the Father, Christ commanded His disciples, even after this breathing, not to leave their place but to await also the "promise of the Father," so that after they attained the "promise of the Son" they waited to attain the "promise of the Father". The promise of the Son is in fact a fellowship with Christ because of the Holy Spirit. Christ breathed the Holy Spirit on them after the Resurrection that they might have full communion in His death and resurrection as a new creation, for without the Holy Spirit it was impossible for them to obtain a fellowship with Christ. Equally the promise of the Father is a fellowship with the Father because of the Holy Spirit through the acceptance of adoption. It is evident that both complement one action, though they are two mystical and separate works like baptism and unction.

BIBLE QUIZ!
Whose home became the first Christian Church in the world?

 
A Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam


A miracle performed by Our Lady Mary, Holy Virgin Mariham, the Mother of God. May her intercession be with us, amen.

It is said there was a very respectable and wealthy man who had many belongings, properties, and lands. He was a good man, he feared God, and his faith was orthodox. He did good deeds for everyone. He generously gave alms to those far and near.

After this, he thought to himself to do something that would please God, the Praiseworthy. So he built a house for pilgrims and travelers and another house for the sick and the needy. He served the sick, fed the travelers, and welcomed the needy.

His story and his good deeds were known in all the regions. Those who are far, close, and the pilgrims honored him.

As a result, Satan, the hater of all good things, was jealous of him. Satan came to him [looking like] a handsome youth and said, “My dear lord, I have heard the story of your good deeds, and I want to participate in your labor. I want to serve you and aid the sick. I don’t want a wage from you. But if I do not serve you how you want, then banish me from your house.”

That good man said to the youth, “Do as you say.”

The man ordered the youth to serve the travelers, the sick, the needy, and the people of his house.

That youth served each one of them as they wanted, until the entire house honored him. The travelers, the sick, and the needy blessed the good rich man of the house for bringing to them that youth who served them.

That good man rejoiced about the service of that youth. He appointed him guardian over his entire house and his property. He adored the youth.

Satan thought about how he might destroy that good man. He said to him, “O my lord, the travelers, the sick, and the needy want fish.”

The good man answered, “Go, buy them what they want.”

Satan, who was in the image of a youth, responded, “It would be better if we went together, you and I, to the sea to catch enough fish for them and us. They would enjoy it a lot, and they would eat because it is you who caught the fish for them.”

That good man replied to him, “I have never done this work, and I do not know how to fish.”

But Satan insisted, saying, “Come with me and watch me fish for you, and you will be pleased.”

So that good man went with him. Satan lowered his hand into the depths of the sea and brought out fish. He said to that good man, “Come closer to me and take this fish.”

But [in fact], taking advantage of this, Satan wanted to drown him in the depths of the sea. However, Satan was unable to do an evil deed on account of the good that that man had done.

After Satan realized that he was unable to do an evil deed against him, he carried that fish, and they returned together and entered their home. They cooked that fish and ate it and fed the travelers, the sick, and the needy.

After a short while, Satan said to the master of the house, “The travelers, the sick, and the needy want wild game. Get up so that we can go to the wilderness; we will trap and hunt. We and the travelers, the sick, and the needy will eat.”

So that good man went with him to the wilderness. [There,] Satan shot at him with arrows in order to hit him. But God, the Praiseworthy, dispelled the evil of Satan away from him. Satan’s violence was unable to harm [him] because of the good that he had done.

When Satan recognized that he was unable to do evil against him, he was enraged. He carried an abundance of game that he had hunted. They returned together and entered their house. They roasted that meat, ate, and [then] fed the travelers, the sick, and the needy.

That good man loved Satan, who was in the likeness of a person, very much more than all of the people of his house—more than his children and his family.

Satan wanted to lead that good man to sin through evil thoughts.

So Satan said to him, “My dear lord, you know that your days are more numerous than your wealth. If you spend all your wealth on the travelers, the sick, and the needy, [then] your wealth will be gone. You will become poor and destitute. You will not find anyone to help you. Severe grief will befall you. Your friends and your enemies will ridicule you. [Therefore,] I advise you to scale back what you are doing and not give as much charity to the needy. This way, the people of your house and your family will not become destitute.”

But that good man did not accept that advice. He said, “All this world and everything in it will pass away. Nothing will remain except God the Praiseworthy and good deeds. Do not grieve when you do good deeds, because every good deed is with God the Praiseworthy and Almighty. As for the evil, it is from the wretched Satan, may the Almighty God humiliate and disgrace him.”

At once Satan was ashamed.

After a short while, a bishop heard the story of that good man [and of] how he was doing good deeds for everyone. The bishop wanted to see him, so he went to him for a visit. That bishop was a good and holy man. He discerned [the truth] by the Holy Spirit. When the bishop arrived there, the good man rejoiced in him and honored him, leading him into his house. [There,] he sat him in a good spot. He commanded his children and his wife to serve the bishop.

While they were reclining at the table, that good man asked for Satan, who appeared to him to be a person. It was Satan’s custom to serve the good man at meal times, but he could not find him. Satan [had] fled and hid, [for he was] afraid of that bishop. When they looked for him, they found him. They brought him forcefully to the table.

When Satan arrived, the good man started praising him to the bishop. But the bishop, by the Holy Spirit, knew that this was Satan.

So the bishop said to the master of the house, “Dear good man, understand that God has protected you and saved you from the wickedness of this evil man.”

Then the bishop turned to Satan and said, “I will make you swear by the name of Jesus, who was crucified, to tell me what you want from this man and why you were unable to destroy him up to this point.”

In front of all the people who were there, Satan answered the bishop, “Indeed, when I heard the story of this man and of his good works, I grew jealous of him. I wanted to destroy him, so I pretended [to be a person] and I served him. Then I led him to the sea in order to drown him, but I couldn’t. Then I led him to the wilderness to kill him, but I couldn’t. I advised him to stop doing the good deeds that he was doing, but he didn’t listen to me. [For indeed,] every morning before he left his house, he would pray and beseech God to save him from evil. Precisely because of this I was unable to do evil against him nor kill him.”

Immediately, Satan was destroyed. The flesh in which he was hidden remained behind among them like a rotting corpse.

When that good man and all the people of his house saw this miracle, they were awed. They worshiped God and praised the bishop, who had saved them from Satan and his oppression.

The bishop said to that good man, “I’m asking you to tell me, what is the prayer and the supplication that you have been making every morning before you leave your house to the point that God saved you from Satan and his oppression?”

The good man responded to the bishop, “Indeed, every morning before leaving my house I bow in front of the icon of Our Lady Mary, the Holy Virgin Mariham, and I say:

“Peace to you, O Fullness of grace, God is with you. Rejoice, O Blessed One, who has given birth to the Son of God, without intercourse. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, forever. Peace to you, you alone are pure—there is no one like you. Dear Virgin Mary Mariham, dear Mother of God, dear Ark of God, with whom God is always pleased—rejoice, O Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, O Gates of the Garden of Rejoicing, incline your ear to my petition to you, though I am an undeserving sinner. Be my helper, and protect me from the evil of the hater of good things.”

When the bishop heard this prayer, he wrote it down, memorized it, and guarded it in his heart. He bid the good man and all the people of his house farewell. He prayed over them, blessed them, and returned to his home in peace.

That good man lived with the people of his house the life of good ones, serving Our Lady Mary, the Holy Virgin Mariham, until they died and entered the kingdom of heaven by the intercession of the Intercessor, the Mother of Light, the Performer of miracles and wonders.

May her prayers and blessings be with your servant King Dawit forever and ever, amen amen, and amen—let it be, let it be.

O Holy Virgin Maryam, pray for us!


LIJOCH! The Children's Corner

Memory verse: - Acts 2 : 1
And when the day of Pentecost  was fully come,they were all with one accord in one place.





ይበል:ግዕዝ (yibel Ge’ez)
Let's reclaim our forefathers’ language

Today we will look at a very meaningful and broadly used root word in Ge'ez:

ነፍሰ
nefse - to blow

The verb nefse means to blow, or to blow wind, and from it we get many concepts. In the causative form of the verb አንፈሰ anfese, it can mean breathe, rest, revive, give rest/relief, or soothe.


We can derive from this verb the noun ነፍስ nefs, which means spirit, but can be used with suffix pronouns to refer to the self (e.g. ነፍሱ nefsu can mean 'he himself'). The noun ነፋስ nefas can also mean spirit, but usually means wind or air. Deriving from ነፍሰ nefse a different noun, we get መንፈስ menfes, the word we commonly know as spirit, especially in the name of መንፈስ ቅዱስ menfes qidus, the Holy Spirit. This noun gives us the adjective መንፈሳዊ menfesawi - spiritual.


ORTHODOX Q&A

"Who are the church fathers?"

Generally we consider 4 groups of people when we think of 'the church fathers'. It begins with the apostles (1st century) of our Lord Jesus Christ, then the apostolic fathers, by which we mean those who were the direct disciples of the apostles (2nd century), (e.g. Clement of Rome, disciple of Peter, Polycarp of Smyrna, disciple of John). After them are the apologists, who wrote and defended the Christian faith in a time when Christian doctrine was being attacked by many false doctrines (2nd-3rd century). These are fathers like Justin Martyr and Irenaeus of Lyons. After them we refer to the golden age fathers, (4th-5th century) like Athanasius of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Dioscorus, etc. All the priests who have kept the faith from the 1st century to the present day are our fathers, but these are the historical designations given to those of the early church.

Send us your questions at: seu.eotccarla@gmail.com



Short message on behalf the Spiritual Education Unit:

His Grace Abune Thaddaeus, Head Administrator Archimandrite Abba Gebreyesus, and all clergy and faithful- thank you for the opportunity to share this labour of love with you. Thanks also to the team of the Spiritual Education Unit for their hard work.
-Liqe Teghuan Tekle Mariam Greene


References
Miracle of the Holy Virgin Mary: pemm.princeton.edu/en-us/stories/194

Ascension and Pentecost: Matta El-Meskeen. (1994). Ascension & Pentecost.

CONTACT US:
Archdiocese headquarters: Medhane Alem (Saviour of the World), Old Golden Grove Rd. Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago.
Tel. 868-642-4230.
e-mail: eotc.arch.carla@gmail.com

          

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