Pentecost Season

The Spring & Summer months of June, July, August, and September are considered part of a much longer period covering roughly half of the Christian year. This longer period may be called Pentecost Season (after Pentecost Sunday, May 23) or Trinity Season (from Trinity Sunday, May 30). This year we will call it Pentecost Season and number the Sundays accordingly. The season and readings generally focus on the discipleship and unity of the Church as she follows in the footsteps of her Lord. The early church father John Chrysostom (A.D. 407) comments on the significance of Pentecost:

“Pentecost is the reverse of the destruction of Babel. The tongues of fire from heaven are the living language which the Spirit teaches the saints, and which expresses the new life in their hearts; and this life is the life in the fellowship of love, fellowship with God in Christ, mutual fellowship with one another. When the Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts, he robs none of us of the individual- ity which God has given to each; but he sanctifies it, brings us into harmony with one another, and unites us as one in God. . . . All peoples shall hear the word of life in their own tongue, and all languages shall be filled with everlasting truth. This was foretold in the miracles of Pentecost day, when men of all nations heard the apostles speak to them in their own tongue. When the church shall have been made mature the saved of all different nations shall together be one blessed and holy family; and all tongues shall unite in one grand harmony in the celestial language of love, in which the church shall sing the son of God and the Lamb.”

Red, the color for Pentecost symbolizes the Holy Spirit’s fiery presence.

A Pentecost prayer: Almighty God, who in smoke and fire upon Mt. Sinai gave the old law to Moses, and who this day revealed the New Covenant in the fire of the Spirit: Grant, we pray, that kindled by the same Spirit which you wondrously poured forth upon your apostles, we may receive with joy your commandment of love. We ask this through Christ the Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.