The Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, which this year we prayerfully celebrate on 7 June, is the celebration of the triumph of Divine Love, the feast celebrating the unification of all people.
Thus, in the kontakion of the Feast we hear, “Once, when He descended and confounded the tongues, the Highest divided the nations [at the construction of the tower of Babel – Genesis 11:5-9]; and when He divided the tongues of fire, He called all men into unity; and with one accord we glorify the All-Holy Spirit.” When in the descent of the Holy Spirit [God] distributed the tongues of fire, He called everyone to unity. In order to destroy the people’s evil intent in constructing the Tower of Babel, God descended and caused everyone to speak in different languages and no longer understand one another; thus the construction of the tower came to an end.
On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire, and gathered everyone together, gathered them together by being in each of them; although the Apostles began to speak in various languages, that did not prevent them from understanding one another. This clearly shows that the grace of the Holy Spirit is capable of gathering the peoples of the world into one single whole. It is only the presence of the Spirit of God, acting as an unbreakable link among men, that unites them without regard to nationality, age, or social position. What is required for this to be so? It is not enough to merely call humanity toward friendship, brotherhood and equality. For there to be unity, brotherhood and equality must exist among people not just in word but in deed, everyone must accept Christ and believe in Him. Faith in the Saviour and life in accordance with that faith is the sole essential condition needed in order to receive the grace of the Holy Spirit into oneself. All those who turn to Christ through the Mystery of Baptism enter into a new life and comprise the Church of God on earth, which is the essential beginning towards universal unity.
The Church is the image of unity for all mankind, which can only become one when everyone joins in the Church of Christ. Then there will be neither Greek nor Jew nor barbarian nor Scythian, neither slave nor freeman, but all one in Christ.
Let us implore the All-holy Trinity that we and all people might acquire, through the power of Divine love, blessed unity.
Congratulations on the Feast, beloved faithful and readers!
Source: Serbian Orthodox Church
