“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.” (Acts 2:1-3)
What is this sound that so filled the house, mighty, rushing, bringing tongues of fire down from Heaven upon the Apostles of Christ? This new sound of wind and manifest tongues of fire on Pentecost was the Holy Spirit poured out on Christ’s Disciples in the fullness of time on Holy Pentecost over 2,000 years ago.
How does a man become truly filled like them with God’s Holy Spirit? — Not just born into this world with a human nature, and not just potentially born through baptism and chrismation into a new life in the Church, but more— “…unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph 4:13) This is a Mystery, but it can be discovered by us by starting to live a sanctified life today.
Let us walk down this road, “…looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith.” (Heb 2:2), praying without ceasing, molding our lives consciously to be like all of the myriad of Saints that have gone before us on this living path of salvation. Let us say from the depth of our hearts, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Rev 22:20-21)
“God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7) This is the birth of the first Adam.
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory, the Glory of the Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) This is the birth on Earth of the Second Adam, and the regeneration of fallen human nature.
“And they [the Apostles] were all filled with the Holy Spirit….” (Acts 2:4) This is the filling of the potential of our being remade now actually into God’s Image and Likeness that is only fulfilled by our active cooperation, “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being….” (Acts 17:28) Let us ask Him to begin filling us today!
The Monastics at St. Isaac of Syria Skete
and at the Convent of St. Silouan
and the Faithful at St. Nicholas Church
and the Staff at Orthodox Byzantine Icons and St. Isaac’s Bookstore.