Spiritual Thought
Vera A. Krokonko, M.D., Ph.D.
WHY GREEN SUNDAY?
Growing up in an ethnic immigrant neighborhood, I can recall people talking about somebody as being a "Greenie"! Later on in life, I heard others referring to immature, inexperienced people as "Greenhorns"! Now, what does the color green have to do with a person being young, lacking experience, or just being the common "Joe" in the neighborhood? Perhaps a reflection on why the eastern Churches call Pentecost "Green Sunday" can shed some "green light" on our understanding of this colorful expression.
What is the first thing we think of when we say the word green - plants, trees, in other words, anything that is growing from an original seed which reveals the presence of "new life". During the spring and summer seasons we get such satisfaction when our lawns, gardens, potted plants, hanging baskets and orchards are all vividly alive with rich greenery, having vibrant accents of various colors. all the seeds we planted had to initially die and then sprout into seedlings and from there grow, maturing into colorful blossoms and ripening fruit through our tenderly nurturing their growth with our persistent loving care. Of course, to start with, we had to prepare the soil, making it as fertile as we could with fertilizers and various nutrients. who can forget to use "Miracle-Gro"?
Now, what does working with plants, gardening and lawn care have to do with Pentecost? To begin with, Pentecost is only one of the many Israelite religious festivals having an agricultural meaning. It was called the Harvest Festival, or Festival of Weeks, and was celebrated seven weeks after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was later combined with the Feast of Pasch, or Passover. From just being a harvest festival, it soon took on a significant meaning in Israel's sacred history and became a commemoration of the conclusion of the Covenant with God with the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. Thus, the Israelites celebrated and gave thanksgiving for the gifts of abundant good crops from their fertile fields, as provided for them by God. It was also the time to thank God for having them "passover" from a life of slavery to the Egyptians to a "new life" of freedom as the Chosen People of God.
So, what happens at Pentecost for us believers of the Word of God? Do we recall the Parable of the Sower? (Matthew 13:3-23) As Jesus said, "The seed sown on the path is the one who. . ." Let's just consider that a moment. The "seed" is "the one WHO. . ." and to continue on, "hears the Word of God and. . ." Yes, each one of us is the WHO which is planted. And we either grow from a seedling into a plant bearing fruit or do not bear fruit for various reasons as the parable goes on to explain. And what does bearing fruit mean for us to do but to become WHO we should be as our own unique image and likeness of God, in other words, to live in the truth of who we really are in our relationship to God, others and ourselves. Furthermore, wasn't this one of the directives God gave our first parents - to be fruitful as they grew to become His image and likeness?
Each of us is a seed planted by God in His garden, for He said "the Word" and we were created out of His love for us. With the Resurrection of His Son, the Word, from which everything came into being, we were given the promise of eternal "new" life. Through the Sacraments (Baptism, Chrismation or Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist) of Initiation into our "new life" in God, Jesus Christ prepares the fertile soil in our hearts. At Pentecost, we receive the outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon us so as to continue to nurture and nourish us as He tills the soil and prunes us to follow the Way God our Father wants us to grow. All we have to do is keep any stones away from obstructing the entrance into the spiritual garden being cultivated within our heart, our soul, that likeness of God within us.
Thus, as the Israelites, we too, in thanksgiving at Pentecost, celebrate the outpouring of God's love we daily receive through the bountiful gifts of graces He showers upon us in order to help us grow into a blessed harvest for Him in the fields of His kingdom of Love here on earth. The Holy spirit completes our Covenant with God made with the Blood of Christ by showing us the Truth of living with faith and hope by the LAW OF LOVE. Yes, it is true. we cannot live without the Holy Spirit Who gives us ETERNAL LIFE!!!
CAN WE DARE TO FILL GOD'S GARDEN OF LOVE WITH PLUSH GREENERY
IN RETURN FOR HIS GENEROUS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR US?
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Created on January 1, 2001
Updated 09/29/2002