Reflection - Waiting

By Steve Hall

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060620.cfm
2 Timothy 4:1-8
Mark 12:38-44

Under normal circumstances this reflection would be about one of Saturday’s designated readings. Those are the readings listed above. However, nothing in the world seems ‘normal’ at the moment, so I will use that as my excuse for my present shift — that and the fact that I became preoccupied in thoughts that followed from the readings for the feast of Pentecost.

The text from Acts about the celebration of Pentecost noted that “they were all together in one place.” It is not initially clear who were included in the “they,” but we know, after reading a bit further that at least the twelve apostles were there. Tradition and art have always included the Virgin Mary in the scene, so we can safely assume that she was there too. We are not told why they had gathered on this Jewish feast of Pentecost, a religious celebration that came ten days after the Lord’s Ascension. Possibly they were still afraid. Possibly they gathered because it was convenient since they had all come to Jerusalem for the feast. Possibly they had just gathered to pray. Maybe all these motives along with several others had been instrumental in their gathering. In any case, I suspect that in that gathering they were still pondering the gift of the Father which Jesus had promised would be sent. When would that happen? And what would the gift be like?

Jesus had referred to the ‘gift’ as the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of truth. But what image did that recall from their ancient religious heritage? What references had been made to a ‘Spirit’ in the Scriptures?

Undoubtedly, their first thoughts would have turned to the second verse from Genesis where the Spirit seems imbedded in the very act of creation.

Possibly they recalled the detailed description Moses was given for building the meeting tent and the fact that God had even selected the artisan who was to be in charge of construction. “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every craft.” ( Exodus 31:3-5) From that they might have surmised that the Spirit Himself was creative.

Possibly it was Saul, the first king of God’s people, who initially came to mind. He was chosen by God and anointed by the prophet Samuel. The Scripture tells us that “the spirit of God came mightily upon him.” (1 Samuel 10:10)

It’s also possible, even probable, that one or more of the prophets entered their thoughts; for it was frequently recorded that the coming of the Spirit was associated with the beginning of their prophetic ministry. Such was the case with Ezekiel, among others. “And when he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, I send you to the sons of Israel.’” (Ezekiel 2:2-3)

At least one of those gathered that Pentecost had to be thinking of Ezekiel’s vision of the valley filled with dry bones —

In that scene Ezekiel does as he is told: “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the spirit came into them [the bones], and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great host.” (Ezekiel 37:10)

It is then that the Lord explains the image —

“These bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.'” (Ezekiel 37:11)

But the Lord tells Ezekiel that things will change —

“Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel.” (Ezekiel 37:12)

“And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, says the Lord." (Ezekiel 37:14)

The prophecy of Joel may have been primary in their reflection on the Scriptures —

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:28)

So, there they were. Gathered in some room. Not knowing the when, where, how or what to expect regarding this Counselor. Surely they were anxious about what might come. But, as the situation then stood, a pervasive fear for themselves physically must have lingered.

We today have some advantage over those gathered in that room at that time. The identity and significance of the Spirit has been expanded and clarified by events subsequent to that Pentecostal feast. Further, we have the teaching of the Apostles, Fathers and Doctors of the Church regarding this Spirit whose identity is somewhat nebulous whenever he shows up in the Old Testament. But, even with those provisions, we still struggle to bring the Spirit within our grasp.

An often read but frequently unattended verse from the Apostle John is the simple statement “God is Love.” I, for one, have too often read these words with my Catechism definition in mind. “Who is God?” “God is the Supreme Being who created all things and keeps them in existence.” That’s a nice philosophical statement; but, when combined with John I mentally end up with something like “God is the Supreme Being who loves without limit.” But that’s not what John said. God is not a Being of immense love. God is not an entity of some unknowable kind that is suffused with love. God is not distinct from love. God = Love. The essence of God and the essence of Love are the same.

The creation we know, the creation we barely know and the creation we do not know — none of these are products of God’s decision to create. All of creation is a manifestation of love — of the God Who is Love.

God chose for us to know him as Father because that is the relationship He would have with us. God chose for us to know Him as Son because, as the saying goes, Love isn’t love til you give it away. He chose for us to know Him as Son incarnate and brother because of our own weakness. He chose for us to know Him as Spirit because Love is what He is.

When they were all together In one place they were waiting. While they were waiting they were filled with the unfathomable essence of that which brought them and all of creation into existence.