Sunday, May 30, 2004
Tone Seven The Feast of Pentecost
2nd Vespers of Pentecost: Joel 2:23-32 Apostle: Acts 2:1-11 Gospel: St. John 7:37-52; 8:12
Joel 2:23-32, especially vs. 29: "And on My servants and on My handmaids in those days will I pour out of
My Spirit." The Prophet Joel foretold an outpouring of the Spirit of God, and the Apostle declares its arrival: "this is that
which was spoken by the Prophet" (Acts 2:16). We are living in those days which Joel foresaw, days "which the Lord hath
made; let us rejoice and be glad therein" (Ps. 117:24 LXX), for God has endowed us "with the seal of the Spirit;" indeed,
"we have received the heavenly Spirit...for He hath saved us." Consider the wonder of fulfillment, cause for rejoicing and
gladness, "ye children of Zion, in the Lord your God" (Joel 2:23). "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our
eyes" (Ps. 117:23 LXX). Over the years of our life, "the locust, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, and the
cankerworm" of our sins "have eaten" away our spiritual vitality, stripping the life from our hearts and souls, coming like a
"great army" of consequences into inner being - a devouring horde to eat up our joy, peace and purity. And the Lord has
allowed all this to come upon us - has even sent it like an army against us for our wrongdoings and transgressions (Joel
2:25).
Let us be clear: it is we who have invited this swarm of locusts that have eaten up the spiritual food that God would have
given us. However, on this day, at this moment, as is ever true with God, the Lord longs to set for us a place at His
heavenly banquet table. After all, Beloved of the Lord, we are the People of God, His sons and daughters. Truly, how
greatly He would have us come home to Him as awakened prodigals, as returning sons and daughters! Come, let us "eat
abundantly, and be satisfied, and...praise the Name of the Lord [our] God for the things which He has wrought wonderfully
with [us]" (vs. 26).
What has God "wrought"? As St. John Chrysostom reminds us so often: He did not "cease to do all things until" He had
"brought us back to heaven, and...endowed us with [His] kingdom which is to come." Remember: God Himself took our
flesh from the Virgin. God the Son "Himself has suffered, being tempted...to aid those who are tempted" (Heb. 2:18), but
more, He has become "food indeed" (Jn. 6:55) for His People, "bread which came down from heaven;" and those who eat
"this bread will live forever."
Consider the present condition of our life in Christ - as members of the Church of the Living God: if we confess our sins,
the Lord removes our shame forever (Joel 2:26). Listen to Him: "know that I Am in the midst of Israel, and that I Am the
Lord your God" (Joel 2:27). As He says, He is raining "on [us] the early and the latter rain" (vs. 23) of His Holy Spirit. Do
we not pray to a good God? Do we not ask Him to: "send down Thy Holy Spirit upon us and upon these Gifts"? Do we
think that He does not honor the prayers of His Beloved ones? The Holy Spirit is falling upon us, fulfilling "the Kingdom
of Heaven unto boldness" toward our God. The Lord means to "recompense [us] for the years which the locust....have
eaten" (vs. 25).
Children of Zion, "let us rejoice then and be glad" (vs. 23), casting away the shame of our sins into the oblivion of His
mercy and forgiveness, and let us "dream dreams, and...see visions" of what God has actually wrought among us (vs. 28).
Let us not hesitate to "call on the Name of the Lord [and] be saved: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall the saved one
be as the Lord has said" (vs. 32). Never forget that "He Who rose again from the dead, Christ our true God - through the
intercessions of His all-immaculate...Mother....[has] mercy on us and [saves] us forasmuch as He is good and loveth
mankind."
May the blessing of the Lord and His mercy come upon us through His grace and love toward mankind, always, now and
ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
