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Biblical Problems
Why a Tempest and
fiery Tongues at Pentecost?
Dr Paul Kariamadom VC
The Holy Father has decreed
that 1998, the second year of intensive preparation for Christu Jayanthi
2000, should be devoted to the Holy Spirit. In this context, the above
- mentioned question is very relevant. Wind and fire are significant symbols
of the Holy Spirit. They are the signs of life and strength.
The symbol of the
wind
The Hebrew word 'Ruah',
meaning wind or breath and the Indo-European words ‘Pneuma’ Spiritus' and
‘Alma' are used to designate the Holy spirit (Since the word Ruah is feminine
in gender, some people see the mother-aspect of God in the Holy Spirit).
It is to indicate the individuality of the Holy Spirit and the great power
of the invisible God that the Spirit represents, that the symbol of the
wind is used on significant occasions in the Holy Scriptures.
The book of Genesis begins
with the reference to the "wind from God" that "swept over the face
of the waters"(1:2). This word of God reminds us that supernatural
and physical life arises from a void, by the power of the Spirit of God.
After fashioning man from the slime of the earth, God breathed life into
his nostrils. Thus man became a living being. This account is also given
in the story of creation (cf Gen 2:7). This Scriptural word makes it clear
that it is not possible for man to deal with or control matters regarding
human life and its secrets as he likes through methods like cloning. The
Psalmist highlights the fact that it is this power and breath of God that
supports the life of the whole of creation. The same idea can be seen in
Is 42:5 "When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away
their breath, they die and return to their dust"(Ps 104:29). In the
valley of dry bones that the prophet Ezekiel witnessed (cf Ez 37:1-10),
the skeletons became alive and assume flesh and sinews when God instilled
life and breath into them.
It is this same Spirit of
God that gives life and energy to the people of God devoid of spiritual
power and dynamism. The Bible sees the wind as the breath of God and his
vehicle. The Red Sea was divided by the power of the wind which is God’s
breath. "At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up, the floods
stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea"(Ex 15:8).
Psalm 29 can be called the
song of the Lord's strong wind. The Lord's voice flashes forth flames of
fire and shakes the wilderness (cf 29:7-8). Psalm 104:4 expresses the same
idea. "You make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers."
The Holy Spirit is called 'power' (dunamis). because it is symbolised
by a powerful wind. We can never afford to forget that spiritual power
is the greatest power in the world.
It is through the symbol
of the wind that St John describes the second birth in the Spirit. "The
wind blows where it chooses and you hear the sound of it, but you do not
know where it comes from or where it goes"(3:8). The wind is free to blow
where it wills. Likewise the grace of the Holy Spirit is a great grace.
He distributes the necessary gift and charisms to each one according to
his will (cf 1 Cor 12:11). It is not possible for us to forsee what will
happen to us and carefully control our life. Though it is not possible
for us to see the Holy Spirit with our external eye, we can see the various
fruits of his work(cf Gal 5:22-23).
It is by breathing on the
disciples that Jesus gave them the Spirit that forgives sins (cf Jn 20:22-23).
We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be cleansed from our impurities
and sins. The angels that stand at the four corners of the earth to control
its four winds (cf Rev 7:1-2) represent the Holy Spirit who controls the
winds as well as the life of man.
Fire
In the Bible the symbol
of fire highlights the powerful activity of the Holy Spirit. In the Old
Testament, fire indicates the presence of God. In Ex 3:2 it is in the midst
of the burning bush that defied destruction that God, who is eternal, appeared
to Moses.
The bush that was blazing
was not consumed. This bush stands for the loving and eternal God. When
the Lord God descended on Mount Sinai in fire it was wrapped in smoke (cf
Ex 19:18). Ex 13:21 describes the pillar of fire that stands for God’s
strength . In Psalm 78:14 we read that the Holy Spirit led the wanderers
in the desert by a cloud in the daytime and a fiery light by night.
The prophets too describe
fire and wind as the symbols of God’s power (cf Is 6:6;29:6;66:15). "His
lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is like a devouring fire"(Is
30:27) and the fire that burns constantly on the altar (cf Lev 6:8-13)
indicates that we must constantly become a burnt offering by the fire of
the Holy Spirit. Rom 12:1 gives the same idea. The light seen in the dwelling
of the Israelites while the Egyptians were enveloped in dense darkness
(cf Ex 10:23), is the protective power of the Divine Spirit.
The miraculous event recounted
in 2 Mac 1:19-23 reveals that the power of the Holy Spirit cannot be destroyed.
The fire of the altar hidden in the hollow of a dry cistern by the holy
priests during the Persian conquest, remained intact in the form of a liquid
for years together. Later, on the command of Nehemiah, when this liquid
was sprinkled on the wood and other materials, a great fire blazed up,
consuming the sacrifice. What we have to look for here is the great and
divine power present in the fire.
The Baptist testifies that
Jesus is the one who baptises in the Holy Spirit and by fire (cf Lk 3:16).
It was this baptism that took place on Pentecost day when the Holy Spirit
descended on the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire. In the Israelite
tradition (the book of Enoch)there is a reference to the "dwelling of fiery
tongues " which is the power of the Holy Spirit. The tongues of fire symbolize
the gift of tongues received from the Holy Spirit and the great power of
preaching the word. Jesus came to cast fire upon this earth (cf Lk 12:49).
This fire is the Holy Spirit
himself. When the fire of the Holy Spirit comes down it gives the grace
of repentance and purifies and judges men. Fire accomplishes two things.
It purifies certain things (Lev 13:52;Nem 31:23). Secondly it destroys
some others (Gen 19:24; Ex 9:23). The Holy Spirit judges and punishes those
who oppose the word of God. On the other hand the Holy Spirit sanctifies
those who obey the word of God. Rev 4:5 presents seven flaming torches
which are the seven spirits of God. These can be seen as the seven gifts
of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
Just as the wind comes from
above, the Holy Spirit also comes from above and purifies us. The dust
of our sins should be scattered by the strength of this divine wind. Just
as a room in which no fresh air enters and is full of dirt, becomes inhabitable,
the person in whom the Holy Spirit does not dwell is full of sin and unhappiness.
Just like the sound of the fierce tempest that raged on Pentecost day,
the word of God resounds throughout the world by the power of the Holy
Spirit. Every believer is called to be filled with the Holy Spirit and
become an effective messenger of the word of God. It is not possible for
any of us to run away and hide ourselves from the power and presence that
assail us like a tempest.
The Holy Spirit is the heavenly
fire promised by Jesus. It is by earthly fire that we get heat, light and
comfort. Similarly, it is only when the Church, the community and individuals
are inflamed and shine with the light of the Holy Spirit, that they become
the light of the world and a lamp to its feet. Like the psalmist we should
be able to say, "My heart becomes hot within me. While I mused, the
fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue"(Ps 39:3). Our hearts should
burn as did the hearts of the disciples of Emmaus (cf Lk 24:32). Fire melts
and makes the scattered grains of gold into one lump. So too the fire of
the Holy Spirit gathers and makes into one the scattered people of this
earth.
O Holy Spirit, give wings
to our feet and fire to our bones. May the fire of your love inflame us
and warm our cold hearts. O light of our hearts! Come to us. May your healing,
cool breeze grant us wholeness, new life and peace! Amen!