THE FEAST OF PENTECOST: Ro 8:8-17
Judging the past by the standards of the present
In this society in which we live today, it is a commonly accepted attitude to judge and condemn the past by the values and the philosophies of the present; and that is done with a spirit of pride and self-righteousness. Then, if there is a possibility of getting some money and gaining some profit, a crusade is started, which becomes the centre of attention of all the media. Many times, people who have nothing to show in service to their fellow human beings are the ones who mostly speak out, demanding justice and compensation. If one is or was in a position of leadership, then he is crucified, and nothing will be accepted as a possible justification. Whoever stands in front of people must be a perfect and blameless hero, if such a person can be found. The basic truth that all of us are weak and sinners is forgotten.
However, if these so outspoken people were there, they would have submitted with total subservience, and would be lost in the crowd, without making any impact which would be worthy taking notice of.
Paul seen and judged by today’s culture
This comes to mind, as I think of Paul, the great Apostle, who became great in spite of or because of his weakness and sin, being human like all of us. Nowadays, we find people who accuse Paul of all kinds of things, mainly of bigotry and male chauvinism, even misogyny. They would like Paul to be a twenty first century philosopher or politician promoting all the latest ideas of this new age. However, to see the relevance of Paul for today, we must look at him in the Jewish and Roman societies in which he lived at the beginning of the first century ad.
Paul’s experience of the Holy Spirit
As we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, we can see Paul as a great product of the Holy Spirit, and we should listen to his very profound teaching about and his deep experience of the Holy Spirit.
Echoing the words of Christ, Paul wrote to the Romans that "the Spirit of God has made his home in you (Ro 8:9). That fact transforms us, making of us children of God:
"Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God." (Ro 8:14-16).
Baptised in one Spirit, we have the dignity of children of God
We are children, so we are not slaves, meaning that we cannot be oppressed and trampled upon. Our dignity must be respected. Paul is very clear on that. This thinking was a totally radical thinking, in the Greco-roman culture, with a society built upon discrimination and slavery. Paul was not a politician and he was not in power to create fair political and social structures; he was just a wandering preach, moved by his deep love to Jesus Christ, and he offered only what he could offer: Jesus Christ, as Saviour and Redeemer.
According to Paul, we are all made into one, without discrimination, based on tribe, nation, race, language, culture or even sex:
"For in the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Co 12:13) And "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28).
A deep experience of the Holy Spirit will lead us to recognise Jesus' face in all the people around us, opening our hearts to them and seeing in them the common dignity of children of God.
The experience of Pentecost teaches us that, in spite of different languages, races and cultures, we are all called to be one and to rejoice together as we proclaim God's praises and sing his glories.
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