Recently, I was blessed to be in Jerusalem to help prepare for the inauguration of the new Pentecost Room in the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. You can see my twelve-minute contribution here: The Spirit Speaks Through Each One

PENTECOST IN JERUSALEM

In this Pentecost Room, Daniel Cariola, the artist of the Hemorrhaging Woman in Magdala, painted a unique tongue of fire descending and resting on each disciple as we read in Acts 2:3. There are many distinct tongues of fire descending, one on each of the one hundred nineteen persons he depicted in a marvelous hyperrealist rendering. Of the one hundred and twenty disciples mentioned in Acts 1:15, he omitted one person so that you feel invited to insert yourself in the scene and open your heart for the Holy Spirit’s gift. The Holy Spirit works in each one in a unique, personal, and unrepeatable way.

We often pray that the Holy Spirit ignite the fire of his love in us! Fire is a very strong physical reality and cultural symbol. Fire came on Mt Sinai, Ex 19:18, when God was present to give the Covenant to Moses. In this dawn of the New Covenant, he became present in a similarly powerful way in each disciple.

At 9 am that same morning, Peter would proclaim the promise of that very same gift on the pious Jews who had assembled to celebrate Shavuot, Act 2,14-21. Further on, the same Holy Spirit would be poured out even on the Gentiles, while Peter was speaking in Cornelius’ house, Acts 10:44–47 “They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” He would later report: God, who knows the heart, accepted them and gave them the Holy Spirit, just like us, cf. Acts 15:8.

Moses rebuked Joshua’s “Stop them!” for trying to limit the Holy Spirit’s action in some of the community, and wished for the universal outpouring on all God’s people, Numbers 11. This wish, transformed into a prophecy in Joel 3, came to a new fulfillment as God poured out his Spirit on all the disciples.

EACH ONE GOT A TONGUE OF FIRE

The one fiery Holy Spirit apportioned to each disciple is expressed as parted, separated, or divided. It’s not about division, but rather about a portion for each one. Each person gets a share. Acts 2 opens with Pentecost and concludes with a community living together and sharing everything in wonderful unity. Though this joyous unity will subsequently be tested in various ways as the primitive Church develops and grows, the confusion of Babel has been replaced by the many language groups capable of understanding each other.

CAN OUR FIRE lead us to contradict each other, and even hate and oppose each other? As disciples, we have misunderstandings. We may have mighty disagreements. Does this justify spiteful condemnations, hatreds, and even wars among us, who are all disciples of Jesus? Or does this require us to listen to the Holy Spirit, and to each other, in the purifying fire of Him who is love? Does our tarnished gold need refining seven times in this fire? We can admit that now, 2000 years later, there are lots of thresholds, if not walls, between us, buttressed by hurt memories, historical alienations, and even some theology. Can we let the Holy Spirit speak to us in a whisper through our sister and brother disciples?

True communion can progress and begin to flourish even imperfectly when we learn to recognize and honor this presence in each disciple, when we listen with respect to the Spirit dwelling in every heart. It is one and the same Spirit, but He rests differently upon each person. In that diversity, received with reverence, we encounter each other. Can we now learn to walk together with baby steps, one step closer, even slowly, even very slowly? Some babies take longer to go from crawling to walking and running. Isn’t it fun to be moving closer together, all the while looking out for needier folks along the way beside us!

HOPE FOR OUR CONFLICTED FAMILY

Every living reality, plant or animal or family, association, or a society in any degree, thrives when it functions as one reality. Once its oneness is compromised or threatened, its very life is in danger and is extremely exposed. Would this not also apply to the Body of Christ, His living Spouse? It’s a testimony to God’s grace that the Church continues despite all our divisions and even wars, some of which were very long and still linger on as scars or wounds, even if they seem hidden or are out of sight and out of mind.

We are deeply pained by the series of conflicts raging around the world and the very palpable one here in the Holy Land. We are all praying that every heart be free from hatred and violent intent. But then we remember that Christian hearts have also been invaded and deformed through mutual hatred and antagonism. Isn’t it time that we houseclean some remaining negativity that might be in our hearts towards other disciples of Jesus with whom

we’re not yet in full communion?

The challenges of full communion are very demanding, and we need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to move us to greater communion with each other. Meanwhile, we can at least ask for the grace of reducing antagonism and interior negativity toward each other. This brings great relief and blessing in our relationships, which can spill over into the wounded, hemorrhaging world around us.

The New Testament is saturated with thoughts, exhortations, and prayers related to our oneness and unity. I just did a very brief check on the number of related references, and they go into the hundreds.

SO HOW DO WE RELATE TO EACH OTHER?

Let us be inspired by a text I recently prayed, from Ephesians 4: “I plead with you, as a prisoner for the Lord, to live a life worthy of the calling you have received, with perfect humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another lovingly. Make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force. There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all, and works through all, and is in all.”

In this calling to unity, we look forward to approaching each other more warmly to encourage each other and together assist those in need nearby.

Get to know...

Ansam Mansour

Deputy Reservation Manager

“I had a great experience with my office manager. She treated us like family members and not just employees”.  

Ansam comes from Kawkab Abu Elhija, a Galilean Muslim village of about 4000 people, north of Nazareth, near historical Yodfat. Her dad is the high school secretary. Her brother and three of her four sisters are already married. Her parents raised the children to cherish each human being as such and to make good decisions freely. They treasure how religion should help us become better persons.

Ansam’s path into a hotel career began with her determination to learn to be a chef, a one- year course at the Rimonim Hotel School in Tiberias. Her parents would have wished that she begin a BA program straight away but her subsequent three years cooking at the Leonardo Plaza opened her eyes to the various hotel departments. So, she began a Hotel Management C Tourism BA program at Kinneret College. A college field trip to Magdala, which was still under construction, awakened her desire to work here but she dismissed it as an impossible dream due to her lack of English. Her professor encouraged her to pursue an MA in Hotel Management C Tourism, also at Kinneret College, which she successfully completed in English.

She sent her CV to Magdala and got accepted for an interview. When she started working here, her English improved very quickly. Now she discovered where her talents fit well and enjoys observing how all her life’s steps brought her to this point.

Ansam values her new experiences and growth in self-confidence. For her, this is a unique workplace where one feels peace and a lot of good will. She remarks that the managers are very supportive, something new for her and quite helpful. She appreciates how the General Manager grants immediate access and really listens.

“Magdala feels peaceful, like a family. It’s not a workplace! Here I improve myself and work on myself. The beginning of a new life. You are relied upon. They count on you and trust in you. I had a great experience with my office manager. She treated us like family members and not just employees”.

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