Alerts Sign-up
We often hear warnings about the dangers of fire, but this Sunday marks a different kind of encounter with flames. The Christian celebration of Pentecost is remembered as the "birthday of the church," symbolized by tongues of flame that rested above the apostles, inspiring them to spread the Gospel.
The biblical account from Acts states: “Each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, ‘Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?’” This signifies the universal reach of Jesus' message—crossing barriers and touching everyone.
Scripture frequently uses fire as a metaphor. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus mentions setting the earth on fire. Chronicles describe fire from heaven, and Exodus recounts God speaking to Moses from a burning bush. These instances highlight significant spiritual journeys initiated by divine flames.
Pentecost represents another such journey—a continuation of what began at Easter Vigil with its symbolic burst of fire. The Holy Spirit ignites faith anew in churches worldwide, including places like Brooklyn and Barcelona.
Deacon Greg Kandra emphasizes that Pentecost is not confined to a single day; it persists as we live out our faith daily. He challenges believers to keep this spiritual fire alive and share their faith with others even after traditional celebrations end.
Greg Kandra is an award-winning author and journalist known for his blog "The Deacon’s Bench."
