Saturday, May 29, 2004
Saturday of Souls; Hieromartyr Luke of Simferopel
1st Vespers of Pentecost: Numbers 11:16-17, 24-29 Apostle: Acts 28:1-31 Gospel: St. John 21:14-25
Numbers 11:16-17, 24-29, especially vs. 25: "Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him,
and took some of the Spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the Spirit rested upon them,
they prophesied. But they did so no more." This selection is the first reading at the Vespers of the forthcoming Feast of
Pentecost. It illumines some of the teaching in that service: "The Holy Spirit provideth all; overfloweth with prophecy;
fulfilleth the Priesthood; and hath taught wisdom to the illiterate. He hath revealed the fishermen as theologians. He
bringeth together all laws of the Church. Wherefore, O Comforter, equal to the Father in Substance and the throne, glory to
Thee!"
This passage in Numbers draws from the experience of the ancient People of God, yet it reveals the Holy Spirit as the
Provider of every gift for the Church in her common life. In particular, the Spirit empowers the prophetic ministry among
God's People. Also, He completes the ministry of the Priesthood, imparts wisdom to all the Faithful - even those lacking
formal education - and it is He Who enables the Church to carry out its administrative tasks well.
The Prophet Moses, the wilderness leader of God's ancient People, Israel, at one point became overwhelmed by the
burdens of his office for he was functioning alone. He reached a point of desperation and cried out to God, "If Thou wilt
deal thus with me, kill me at once, if I find favor in Thy sight, that I may not see my wretchedness" (Nu. 11:15). God
responded by directing Moses to "gather...seventy men of the elders of Israel" upon whom the Lord would place His Spirit
(Nu. 11:16). Likewise, the Church clearly needs a diversity of gifts to carry on the Lord's ministry and worship. As the
Apostle teaches: many different "administrations" are required, but it is "the same Spirit" Who provides the various skills
and abilities.
Observe that the Holy Spirit empowered the seventy with prophecy to assist in leading the People (vss. 25-27). Prophesy is
important among the Spirit's gifts, being a capacity that St. John Chrysostom describes as "not only the telling of things
future but also of the present," the power to speak forthrightly to conditions in the Church and society. In a time of
extensive secularization like the present, when the Church is more and more alien in the world, this gift from the Spirit is
vital so that the Faithful not be led away from the truth of the Gospel.
Moses' family were members of the tribe of Levi (Ex. 2:1,2), that clan of Israelites which God set aside to serve in the
tabernacle (Nu. 1:53). As a result, the priestly caste all of whom descended from Aaron, Moses' brother (Nu. 3:9,10), also
were Levites. Therefore, when the gift of the Spirit was bestowed upon elders from all twelve of Israel's tribes, the Lord
revealed the close relationship between all of God's People and the Church's Bishops and Priests. Every member of the
Church has a responsibility to assist and support the clergy in carrying out their duties.
The case of Eldad and Medad is instructive, for "they had not gone out to the tent" for the "ordination" of the Seventy who
were to evolve into the governing council of Israel, the Sanhedrin; yet the Holy Spirit manifestly came upon them also (Nu.
11:26). The holy wisdom imparted by the Spirit is not given exclusively through the Church's seminaries. Many among
the Faithful, through prayer and ascesis, are well-grounded in the essentials of the Faith.
Finally, God the Holy Spirit assists the Church in all its administrative tasks, giving light and wisdom both to the clergy
and to the laity alike. The Seventy did not become Priests, but still bore the "burden of the people" with Moses in the other
aspects of governance (vs. 17).
O Christ our God, send upon Thy People the Comforter, Who is Thy Spirit and the Spirit of the Father, that in Him we may
be strengthened to serve Thee worthily before the world.
