Indeed, there is no coincidence in God. Would you believe that Mom’s beautiful red tulips all bloomed this week in time for Flores de Mayo? All thanks to my 3rd sister and our house help for replanting and watering them. ❤
When I watched this Sunday’s worship service, I realized only then that today is also Pentecost Sunday. And the liturgical color of the day is none other than RED. 😀
Pentecost Sunday is a major Christian holiday celebrated exactly 49 days (or 50 days inclusive) after Easter Sunday. Often called the “Birthday of the Church,” it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus in Jerusalem, empowering them to spread the Gospel. [1, 2, 3]
Key Facts and Significance
- Meaning: The name originates from the Greek word pentekostē, meaning “fiftieth”.
- Biblical Event: Described in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit arrived as a “violent rushing wind” with “tongues of fire,” allowing the disciples to speak in various languages so that everyone could understand the message.
- Other Names: It is also historically known as Whitsunday or White Sunday because early Christians often wore white garments for baptisms held on this day. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Traditions and Liturgy
- Color: Red is the liturgical color for the day, symbolizing the “tongues of fire”. Many churches wear red, decorate with red, and pray for the renewal of the Holy Spirit.
- Ecclesiastical Context: It marks the end of the Easter season in Western Christian traditions and is considered one of the holiest days of the year, frequently celebrated with special hymns and Holy Mass.[1, 2, 3]
Speaking of “tongues of fire,” I am praying that this blog has helped spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth through storytelling. And I would like to claim that by God’s grace, it was mission accomplished.
Because 2 days ago, I received a notification from WordPress. I unlocked an achievement as a Globe Trotter. It means around 50+ countries viewed this blog. Yaaaay! To God be the glory! 😇
The irony? I have never been out of this country for the entire 40 years of my life. Yep, not once. lol And yet with just the internet and a laptop, the Good News traveled to so many different countries. Amazing God we have, right?
I guess I can now claim with such conviction that I have truly been a witness and have lived out this Bible verse:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
I would like to end this article with my all-time favorite classic hymn. There’s just something about this song that makes me (and also my late maternal grandma) cry every time I hear it, no matter who sings it.
A blessed Pentecost Sunday, everyone! 🙏
P.S. I’ll share a tip on how to recognize God’s hands when He orchestrates things. Try to notice this number in the paragraphs above, including the captions of the photos: 50. Then connect it to Pentecost. I pray that your spiritual lens will also be opened so you can marvel at how great our God is. 😉
P.P.S. If you have noticed the other achievement I have unlocked, yes, WordPress got it right, too – I am a perfectionist when it comes to everything I post here in my blog. Because I serve a perfect God, He deserves nothing but my very best. 🙂
The Journeyman's Moments 