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Acts 2:1-11 - Pentecost

"...[they] began to speak foreign languages
as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech"

Acts 2:1-11 [from the Jerusalem Bible]

"When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking in his own language. They were amazed and astonished. 'Surely' they said 'all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome - Jews and proselytes alike - Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.' Everyone was amazed and unable to explain it; they asked one another what it all meant. Some, however, laughed it off. 'They have been drinking too much wine' they said.

Reflection:

In the book of the Acts of Apostles, we read about the Pentecost event. Before the passage that this describes this coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the book of Acts says that, "All these [the apostles] joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." (Acts 1:14) Also in Acts 1:15, the Scripture says, "One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers [Jerusalem Bible footnote says that this term 'brothers' means Christians, the laity as distinct from apostles and elders] - there were about a hundred and twenty persons in the congregation..."

From the Bible text we read that before the Pentecost event, the apostles, Mary, and those close to Jesus, came together to pray. We learn that there were 120 persons in that congregation. We can infer from the text that there were 120 persons in all who were brought together after the Ascension of Jesus, by Mary, the apostles, and several women close to these people, and they prayed together before the coming of the Holy Spirit. It must have been a big community waiting for the Holy Spirit. If we also read the Jerusalem Bible translation, its notes tell us that the term 'brothers' meant Christians as laity - distinct from apostles and elders. This community of people must have been the 'seed' of the Church that was to germinate into Church with the descent of the Holy Spirit in a great rush of wind and through tongues of fire that parted upon those who were present.

The other 'brothers' - besides Mary, the apostles, and the women who were with Mary - were probably men who came from different regions around Galilee. In the Catholic tradition, from the Easter event to the Pentecost event, there is a liturgical period of 50 days. Most probably, the other brothers who were with the apostolic group, spoke a second language from whom the apostles and the other disciples learned to speak also while being with them. So, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the community of the apostles and on the congregation which gathered around them, the Spirit granted them the gift of courage to speak in tongues - which can be realistically interpreted as a heightening of the their skill in learning the languages of other men and women who were already gathered around them (those making up the whole group of 120 people). This could historically explain and be one basis for the apostles to have been able to speak in different languages. Although this is but a theoretical way of explaining from the text, and from what we know of tradition, what really must be emphasized is the presence of the Holy Spirit - who came in "what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting..." and "something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire...[which] came to rest on the head of each of them."

Though we may also say in theory that the apostles could have known a second language other than their own Galilean tongue, because of the population being mixed in race and tongue, the stress of the Scripture text on the person of the Holy Spirit as being the One who really enabled them to speak in different languages must be brought more to primary attention. It is really the Spirit who empowers the apostles to go out to the people so that they can communicate in other peoples' own native tongues. This is the mystery of the Pentecost event that will truly inspire us to trust in the Holy Spirit for the courage to use His gifts responsibly by proclaiming the Gospel, and to speak in a manner and language that would be understood by people of different cultures and customs and traditions.

Another point to consider is that there is also mention towards the end of the passage on the Pentecost event about some people, who laughed it off even though many others were amazed by the gift of speech of the apostles. These people who laughed it off and said that the apostles 'have been drinking too much new wine', did not see the hand of God empowering the apostles with that gift of communication. Their remark only belies the fact of their unbelief in the power of the Holy Spirit - who is the Person that should be the main protagonist in this Pentecost event.

The Pentecost mystery in Catholic tradition

The Pentecost event is a Christian mystery that is very popular in Catholic tradition. It is a feast that Catholics celebrate once a year. The feast is a movable feast, meaning that it changes according to the liturgical calendar of the present year. It is not a fixed feast like Christmas or the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This year, the Pentecost feast will be celebrated on May 11, 2008.

The mystery of the Pentecost event can also prayed upon, meditated, and contemplated by those who undertake the devotion to Mary through the praying of the rosary. It is the third glorious mystery of the rosary and recited every Wednesday and Sunday. For those who wish to know more about how to pray the rosary, you can learn more from the article " How to Pray the Rosary"