tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post8857826312701291375..comments2024-03-24T15:19:06.377-04:00Comments on The Continuum: Pentecost commonly called WhitsundayFr. Robert Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892141425033196616noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-16548015308207729832013-05-18T16:44:05.191-04:002013-05-18T16:44:05.191-04:00Pentecost was known as both the Feast of Weeks and...Pentecost was known as both the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Harvest or Firstfruits in the Old Testament. The beginning of the spring grain harvest in ancient Israel was marked with a ceremony in which the waving of the first sheaf of grain was done by the priest, as an offering to God. It was only after that first sheaf (or firstfruit) was offered, that the people were allowed to eat any grain of the harvest. In I Corinthians 15:20, Christ, risen from the dead, is called "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." <br /><br />Firstfruits indicates an initial harvest that is to be followed by another harvest. In the OT, the physical harvest prefigured the spiritual harvest that was to come. Hence it is no surprise that during the Last Supper Christ broke bread and distributed it to his Disciples, calling the Bread His Body, for indeed it was and IS. "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain" (John 12: 23,24). <br /><br />As the wave-sheaf offering of ancient Israel prefigured Christ, on Pentecost two loaves of bread, "the firstfruits to the LORD" were offered (Leviticus 23: 16, 17). These loaves are God's spiritual firstfruits, those who are called to faithfully obey God in this life (James 1:18). That would be us!<br /><br />SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com