THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO COMES AND RENEW US.

BIBLE PORTION:
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Acts of Apostle 2:1-13
John 16:1-11
INTRODUCTION 
Happy Pentecost day to you all in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.

Festivals hold an irreplaceable place in everyone's life. During festival times, relatives, friends, and well-wishers all come together to enjoy and create many happy memories. Festivals are often associated with buying or receiving new clothes and items. The tradition of purchasing new things during Christmas and Easter has been growing in all our lives. Many sales organizations also announce exciting offers to attract us. Thus, buying new things during festival days is common, and through them, we gain new experiences. Similarly, during the Pentecost festival, the disciples gained new experiences. Pentecost refers to the number fifty. The Jews celebrated the Pentecost festival on the fiftieth day following the Passover festival (Leviticus 23:21-35; Deuteronomy 16:9-11). Moreover, it was also celebrated as the Festival of Harvest.

During this Pentecost festival, the disciples received the Holy Spirit permanently. Through this divine message, what kind of new experience did the Holy Spirit give to the disciples? When we receive or perceive the Holy Spirit, what kind of new experiences can we gain? Let us reflect on this based on the given scripture passages.

1.THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES:
We need to understand one thing clearly. The Holy Spirit is not just wind, spirit, or fire. He is a person. He possesses power. Many who read the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles desire the gift of speaking in tongues. We need a clear perspective on the gift of speaking in tongues.

Speaking in tongues does not mean using words that do not exist in the world, translating them, and claiming it to be the language of angels. Rather, it is speaking a language that exists in this world, even if we do not know it, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to make Christ understood to the people who speak that language. The languages spoken by Jesus Christ's disciples were Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew. However, the widely spoken language at that time was Greek. In the upper room where the disciples were gathered, people from thirteen nations, meaning those who spoke thirteen languages, had come together (Acts 2:9-11). It is unlikely that the disciples knew all these thirteen languages. This is because, during their time with Jesus Christ, the disciples ministered only in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. They did not go to other nations to learn languages. However, when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke the native languages of these thirteen nations, as mentioned in Acts 2:7-8. It is important to note that the disciples did not speak a language that does not exist in the world. Instead, they spoke the languages of the thirteen nations, which they did not know, and this is why it was called the gift of speaking in tongues. For example, if I, who do not know Tamil, speak to you in Tamil, it would be speaking in tongues. As members of the Church, we are called to focus more on the works of the Holy Spirit with a clear perspective, free from confusion.

The work of the Holy Spirit is not only in the New Testament but also in the times of the Old Testament. Let us now reflect on what kind of "new things" the Holy Spirit does when He works.

2.NEW HOPE (Ezekiel 37:14)
This is one of the supernatural signs mentioned in the Old Testament. In this event, the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is revealed. While people receive the benefits of miracles performed through the Holy Spirit, it is wise to reflect on why these miracles were performed. This miracle should not be viewed merely as a wonder but rather as something greater—a new hope given to the people of Israel for a renewed life.

The reason behind this miracle is explained in 2 Kings 24 and 25. In 597 B.C.E, King Jehoiakim ruled over Judah. He did what was evil in the sight of God. Because of this, not only the king but also the people committed evil in God's sight. Therefore, God raised Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, against Judah. Jerusalem was plundered and looted. The people of Judah were taken as captives.

While in captivity, they reflected on the good life that God had given them in their homeland, the sins they had committed, and the punishment they had received as a consequence. They lost all hope in life, thinking, "We have no future. We will perish as slaves among foreign nations." Just as dry, lifeless bones cannot come back to life, they believed they had no hope for a better future.

To restore hope to the people of Judah, God, through His Holy Spirit, performed a miracle through the prophet Ezekiel. Just as the dry, lifeless bones were brought back to life, God gave them the message that their hopeless lives would also be revived. He assured them that just as the dry bones came to life, their lives would also be restored and prosper once again.

3.NEW LIFE (Acts 2:14)
This event gives us the hope that God, the Holy Spirit, will lead us into a new life. After the cruel death of Jesus Christ, His disciples were paralyzed with fear. However, the event that took place on the day of Pentecost marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Until then, they had been living in fear and hiding, but after the Pentecost experience, they transitioned from their fearful old life to a bold new life. This transformation was made possible only through the Holy Spirit. At first glance, when we read this passage from the Scriptures, the actions of the disciples may seem simple. But when we consider the historical background, we realize the greatness of what they accomplished after receiving the Holy Spirit.

At that time, the land of Judea was under the control of the Roman Empire. The Jewish religious leaders, in collaboration with the Romans, were determined to eliminate the followers of Christ and were actively searching for the disciples. Stepping outside meant facing the constant threat of being killed. It was a situation where they had no one to turn to for help. As a result, they hid themselves in a room. In this desperate situation, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. After that, their lives took on a new momentum. They moved from a fear-filled old life to a fearless new life. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they boldly proclaimed and declared that Jesus Christ is God.

CONCLUSION 
Beloved people of God!

Through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit helps humanity to be in communion with God without any hindrance. Although the Holy Spirit was permanently given in the New Testament, His work was also present in the Old Testament. Just as the Holy Spirit has been at work since the creation of the world, He continues to work even today. He restores hope to those who have lost it and grants life to those who have lost their way.

Let us receive this new hope and new life, be strengthened, and walk boldly in our Christian journey. Amen!

©2025, I. Ananda Balakrishnan 

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