On How the Holy Spirit Was Manifested and Shared Out at Pentecost

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.

+++

ON HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS MANIFESTED AND SHARED OUT AT PENTECOST
by Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki

+++

A short while ago, with the strong eyes of faith, we beheld Christ ascending, no less clearly than those accounted worthy to be eye-witnesses. Nor are we less favored than they. "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed", says the Lord" (St. John 20:29), referring to those who have found assurance through hearing, and see by faith. Recently we saw Christ lifted up from the ground bodily (Acts 1:9). Now, through the Holy Spirit sent by Him to His Disciples, we see how far Christ ascended and to what dignity He carried up the nature He assumed from us. Clearly He went up as high as the place from which the Spirit sent by Him descended. He who spoke through the Prophet Joel showed us whence the Spirit comes, saying, "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh" (Joel 2:28), and to Him David addressed the words, "Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created: and Thou renewest the face of the earth" (Psalm 104:30). It follows that at His Ascension Christ went up to the Father on high, as far as His Fatherly bosom, from which comes the Spirit. Having been shown, even in His human form, to share the Father's glory, Christ now sent forth the Spirit Who comes from the Father and is sent by Him from Heaven. But when we hear that the Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son, this does not mean that the Spirit has no part in their greatness, for He is not just sent, but also Himself sends and consents to be sent.

This is clearly shown by Christ's words spoken through the Prophet, "Mine hand hath laid the foundation of the earth and stretched out the heavens, and now the Lord God, and His Spirit, hath sent me" (cf. Isaiah 48:13-16). Again, speaking through the same Prophet He says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek" (Isaiah 61:1). The Holy Spirit is not just sent, but Himself sends the Son, who is sent by the Father. He is therefore shown to be the same as the Father and the Son in nature, power, operation and honor. By the good pleasure of the Father and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, the Only-Begotten Son of God, on account of the boundless ocean of Divine Love for mankind, bowed the heavens and came down (Psalm 18:9). He appeared on earth after our fashion, lived among us, and did and taught great, wonderful and sublime things truly worthy of God, which lead those who obeyed Him towards deification (theosis) and salvation...

"...When the fiftieth (50) day after the Resurrection had come, the day we now commemorate, all the holy Disciples were gathered with once accord in the upper room, each having also gathered his thoughts (for they were devoting themselves intently to prayer and hymns to God). "And suddenly", says Saint Luke the Evangelist, "there came a sound from heaven of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting" (Acts 2:1-11). This is the sound which the Prophetess Hannah foretold when she received the promise concerning Samuel: "The Lord went up to heaven and thundered; and He shall give strength and exalt the horn of His anointed" (cf. 1 Samuel 2:10 Lxx). Elijah's vision also forewarned of this sound: "Behold the voice of a light breeze, and in it was the Lord (cf. 1 KIngs19:12 Lxx). This "voice of a light breeze" is the sound of breath. You might also find a reference to it in Christ's Gospel. According to Saint John the Theologian and Evangelist, "In the last day, that Great Day of the feast", that is to say Pentecost, "Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink...This spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive" (St. John 7:37-39). Again, after His Resurrection He breathed on His Disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit" (St. John 20:22)...

"...Why did He appear in the form of tongues? It was to demonstrate that He shared the same Nature as the Logos/Word of God, for there is 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. But why fiery tongues? Not just because the Spirit is consubstantial with the Father and the Son - and our God is fire (cf. Hebrews 12:29), a fire consuming wickedness - but also because of the twofold energy of the Apostles' preaching, which can bring both benefit and punishment. As it is the property of fire to illuminate and burn, so Christ's teaching enlightens those who obey but finally hands over the disobedient to eternal fire and punishment. The text says, "tongues like fire" not "tongues of fire", that no one might imagine it was ordinary physical fire, but that we might understand the manifestation of the Spirit using fire as an example. Why did the tongues appear to be divided among them? Because the Spirit is given by measure by the Father to all except Christ (St. John 3:34), who Himself came from above. He, even in the flesh, possessed the fullness of divine power from and energy, whereas the grace of the Holy Spirit was only partially, not fully, contained within anyone else. Each one obtained different gifts, lest anyone should suppose the grace given to the Saints by the Holy Spirit was theirs by nature. (Source: Saint Gregory Palamas. The Homilies.)

(To be continued)

______________________

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere and fill all things. Treasury of blessings and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One! Trisagion (Thrice-Holy) Prayers

Holy God!  Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse us from our sins! Master, pardon our transgressions! Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.  Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven...

________________________

"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"--Saint John Chrysostom

+++

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George