We call today’s feast “Pentecost.” The word means “50th” and occurs 50 days after Easter—paralleling a calendrical celebration at the time of Jesus that celebrated the giving of “the Law” (Torah) to Moses. Among Christians, this Israelite feast has moved from being a celebration of “the Law” to a celebration of “the Spirit”—of God’s presence among us written on our hearts and in our actions instead of on the stone of Mt. Sinai.
Scripture selections for this feast are telling. We are told that the disciples heard a sound of wind as they huddled in a room and hid from authorities. We also read that Jesus appeared and “breathed on them” when imparting the Spirit to them. If not familiar with Genesis, we might simply think about wind outside and Jesus breathing. However, the reference to wind hearkens back to Genesis when we read that a wind blew over the water at the time of creation and that God breathed life into Adam and Eve. When the New Testament speaks of “wind” and “breath,” it reminds us of that first creation—and tells us that a NEW creation has taken place—creation of the Christian faith community empowered by the Spirit to evangelize the world.
Not only are these Old Testament references (Hebrew scripture) echoed but so is another well-known story. Acts of the Apostles refers to people from diverse geographical places and reports that they all understood the word of God as preached by the disciples. This is NOT the report of some bizarre miracle related to multi-lingual populations but is an allusion to the Tower of Babel story. It told of God punishing the hubris or pride of people by creating different languages so that they no longer could build a tower to heaven. Workers could not understand one another. However, the message of the Gospel was now accessible to all people of the world—in all their diversity of language and lifestyle.
In a reading from Paul, we see him speak of each Christian having a ministry of their own. Just as a body has different parts with different functions, so does the “Body of Christ”—the people of God. I might, at times, sound like a cheerleader for you, but it’s Paul who is the one I’m quoting when with this “cheer.”
Pentecost doesn’t roll around each year that I don’t recall the concluding scene in the film (based on the Hemingway novel) “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” The book and film so struck me that I cite it here again for you—as an illustration of the Jesus story. That is, this scene dramatizes the Gospel message (not intentionally) in depicting a powerful human encounter. I like this because it dramatizes the life, death, resurrection, and spirit of Pentecost in a non-theological way. It drives home the Gospel just the same (as Jordan is a “Christ figure” and Maria, his love, as us receiving the Spirit)..
Here’s the setting.
Robert Jordan is the main character—an American journalist covering the civil war of the 1930s in Spain. He’s accompanying the oppressed revolutionaries who are trying to overthrow the dictator. Think of Jesus associating with the non-elites and standing up against an authoritarian dictator’s military (Roman soldiers?). Jordan falls in love with Maria—a young girl sexually abused by the elites (the common person oppressed by the powerful). As the revolutionaries escape through a mountain pass, a cannonball explodes near Jordan and he can’t continue (condemned to death?). He tells the commando leader to take Maria with the escapees after he speaks with her. This is what he says.
Maria, don’t, don’t say anything. We won’t be going to America this time. But always I go with you, wherever you go, understand? You go now, Maria.
No, no, I stay with you Roberto.
No, Maria, what I do now, I do alone. I couldn’t do it if you were here. If you go, then I go too. Don’t you see how it is? Whichever one there is, is both of us.
No, there’d be only . . .
No, each of us must do his thing alone, and though we be alone, we do it for each other. But if you go, then I go with you, that way I go too. I know you’ll go now Maria, for both of us, because we love each other always.
It’s easier for me to stay with you, Roberto.
I know it’s harder for you, but now I am you also. If you go, I go too. That’s the only way I can go. You’re me now. Surely you must feel that, Maria.
Remember last night? Our time is now, and it will never end. You’re me now, and I’m you. Now you understand. Now you’re going, and you’re going well, and fast, and far, and we’ll go to America another time, Maria.
Stand up now and go, and we both go. Stand up Maria, remember you’re me too. You’re all there will ever be of me now. Stand up. No, stand up. There’s no good-bye, Maria, because we’re not apart. [Jordan calls the commando leader to take Maria away] Pilar! No, don’t turn around. Go now. Be strong. Take care of our life.
[Maria tries to resist Pilar but can’t] No, no, no Roberto, let me stay . . . . please, please don’t make me go . . . Roberto, Roberto, please Roberto . . . .
[Jordan is left behind with a machine gun so as to hold off the pursuing soldiers as long as he can to help Maria and the others escape. He’s thinking these thoughts]
God, that was lucky I could make her go. I don’t mind this at all now. They’re away. Think of how it would be if they got Maria instead of you. Don’t pass out, Jordan! Think about America! I can’t. Think about Madrid! I can’t. Think about, Maria! I can do that alright!
No, you fool, you weren’t kidding Maria about that. Now they can’t stop us ever! She’s going on with me, yes . . .
[Final scene is of the machine gun shooting straight into the camera as bells toll.]
Literature raises themes that parallel issues the novel, story, or poem never mention. By way of symbols, plots, names, words, and other literary devices a reader is reminded of other experiences, moods, and plots that parallel what is being read. Such is at play in the scene above. One is reminded of human communities that see one group as well off financially and one group not. A dictator who rapes and pushes people around versus ordinary folk who just want to make a living. The name “Jordan” reminds one of the Jordan River where Jesus began his ministry (like the journalist beginning his “ministry” among the region’s poorer classes. If “Maria” (Mary) was intentionally chosen as a name to remind the reader of Magdalene, we’ll never know.
With Pentecost conferring the Spirit upon the apostles, they were reminded that wherever they would go—the risen Lord would be with them. As scripture suggests, that’s the only way the risen Lord CAN go after the death of Jesus (Jordan). His Gospel message (like that of a journalist’s messages in newspaper columns) are spread far and wide. And nothing will stop that Gospel message.
As Jesus said, there is no greater love than for one to lay down their life for another. In the Gospel and the film, this occurred. But all Christians can “lay down their life” in some way via commitment, or dedicating their lives, to upbuilding others in some way. The Pentecost story tells us that we can face any oppressor since we’ve been given the Spirit—assured by Jesus that we are loved and that he is with us—as his Christmas name promised “Emmanuel” (“God with us”).