But I digress...PENTECOST

The first part of our trip involves areas not traveled by Jesus, but rather those with historic significance to the area. When we begin to trace the footsteps of Jesus, we will travel mostly in chronological order, ending in Jerusalem. Since today is Pentecost Sunday, I wanted to pause for a moment and jump ahead to Jerusalem to consider the Pentecost story.

At Jesus's last meal with his disciples prior to his Ascension, he counseled them:

"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes. Acts 1:4-9.

Tradition holds that Jesus' natural family and his family of disciples were united in Jerusalem after the Ascension. Some believe that the Pentecost event took place in the same Upper Room where the Last Supper had been held.

This is the site where many believe that room was located. The Pentecost event took place during the Feast of Weeks - called Pentecost - which was a harvest festival drawing the faithful to Jerusalem from long distances. It was the principal feast of the renewal of the covenant made on Mount Sinai.

"When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak. Acts 2:1-4

After Peter gave an impassioned sermon, 3000 were baptized, possibly in one of the mikvah such as this which cover Mount Zion.

Many consider Pentecost to be the birthday of the church. One of the most beautiful observances occurs in the Pantheon in Rome.

In 2010 I visited the Pantheon. It is one of the oldest surviving Roman structures. It was built as a pagan temple, but has now been converted to a Roman Catholic Church, commemorating St. Mary and the Martyrs. I was struck by the open oculus at the center of the domed roof. It is rare that rain even enters the church. This remains the largest unsupported concrete dome in the world.

On Pentecost Sunday, Roman firefighters ascend to the roof of the dome and drop red rose petals through the oculus at the end of the service.

"All the believers were united and shared everything." Acts 2:44.