So what’s next after Holy Week?
By Anne Arakaki-Lock, photos courtesy of Wikipedia
The disciples experienced Jesus’ triumphant Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem, their Last Supper together, his betrayal and agonizing crucifixion, the darkness when he was in the tomb, and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. But what happened after that?
For 40 days before he went to heaven, I love how Jesus hung out with his disciple friends after his resurrection. Scriptures say they went fishing. They ate. He promised them that they would be getting a gift of the Holy Spirit, the Counselor who would comfort them and guide them as he commanded them to share his story with others:
“… you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” – John 14:18.
“… the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” – John 14:26.
So, after Jesus’s ascension, we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’s disciples and other followers, marking the birth of the Church. At Pentecost, 50 days from Easter, we see God’s promise fulfilled. The disciples (learners) became apostles (messengers), filled with the Holy Spirit. So now, they were not as much supposed to show people what they could do for God, but what God had done for them: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” – Acts 2:1-4. Has the Holy Spirit descended on you and have you accepted this priceless gift from God?
Anne Arakaki-Lock serves as a member of Blaine Memorial’s Congregational Care Ministry.
Lectionary Readings
| Fifth Sunday of Easter May 7, 2023 Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 1 Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14 Sixth |
| Sunday of Easter May 14, 2023 Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66:8-20 1 Peter 3:13-22 John 14:15-21 |
| Ascension of the Lord May 18, 2023 Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47 or Psalm 93 Ephesians 1:15-23 Luke 24:44-53 |
| Seventh Sunday of Easter May 21, 2023 Acts 1:6-14 Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 John 17:1-11 |
| Day of Pentecost May 28, 2023 Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21 John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39 |
| Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth May 31, 2023 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Psalm 113 Romans 12:9-16b Luke 1:39-57 |
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