June 8th – a Significant Day on the Calendar
A starlit May night was the perfect background for Genesee Valley Lutheran Church
(photo by Ron Reeve)
June 8th signified two important dates on both the Gregorian calendar and on the Liturgical Calendar. I hope you’ll read more in today’s post …
Two very important dates occurred on my calendar Sunday, June 8, 2025. On the Western or Gregorian calendar, it signified this was our 46th wedding anniversary. (Oh, how the years fly!)
Of even greater significance, on the Liturgical, or Christian religious calendar, which marks significant events in the life of Jesus, I was reminded June 8th was Pentecost Sunday.
The word Pentecost is derived from the Greek word pentekoste which means fiftieth. In the Jewish tradition, it was known as the Feast of Weeks, occurring 50 days following Passover. In the Christian tradition, Pentecost occurs on the seventh Sunday, or fifty days after Easter.
Shortly before his death, Jesus promised his closest friends that after he returned to his Father, God would send an “Advocate, the Holy Spirit,” who would teach them all things and remind them of everything Jesus had said to them. (See John 14:26)
Before his ascension into Heaven, Jesus instructed 120 of his loyal followers to wait in an “upper room” for the Holy Spirit’s arrival. According to the biblical account in Acts 2:2-4, on the Day of Pentecost, the promised Spirit arrived in most dramatic fashion!
“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [The friends of Jesus] saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit ….” The season following this event was powerful and dramatic. Thousands came to belief in Jesus Christ. The new group of believers was initially called “The Way” and eventually, became known as Christians.
According to information I obtained on an AI Overview, the first Pentecost occurred on May 25th, 33 A.D., approximately 1,992 years ago. Ron and I were married on June 8, 1979.
Is there any relevance between our 46th wedding anniversary and the 1,992nd Day of Pentecost’s anniversary? Since anniversaries are often good times to review, I’ve been doing a bit of that.
On our 46th anniversary, I’ve been thinking about many good times as well as a few that were not-so-good. I’ve recalled joyous seasons, and some that were difficult.
And so, it has been with the Church. Throughout almost 2,000 years, the good has mingled with the not-so-good. While Christianity has experienced joyous seasons filled with peace, revival, and even cultural reformation, followers of Jesus continue in many places throughout the world to experience dark seasons of immense suffering, including martyrdom.
In Ron’s and my marriage, the glue holding us together has been a mixture of love plus deep commitment to our wedding vows and the social institution of marriage.
Concerning love, we continue to grow in our love for God, each other, our family, as well as learning how to more accurately love ourselves. Regarding commitment, we both believe the legal and social obligation to lifelong partnership, even though imperfect, is a really good idea and benefits not only individuals and families but the whole of society.
Christianity, with its variety of traditions, theological perspectives, and practices, is also held together with love and commitment. For the most part, the universal Church still maintains a foundation supporting ancient creeds and timeless prayers such as The Lord’s Prayer, as well as the most important commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Finally, I observe one last comparison. That is the word “Ordinary.” According to the Liturgical Calendar, following Pentecost, Christians enter a long season—almost half of the year—which is known as “Ordinary Time.”
Ron and I are two very unexceptional people, and most days in our marriage have been simply “ordinary.” That doesn’t mean those days were insignificant and without purpose. It is in ordinary, day-to-day activities that we have discovered ways to live out our love and commitment.
Ordinary days within the Church can also become extraordinary as apprentices of Jesus study and put into practice that portion of the Lord’s Prayer which says: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Blessings to each person who has taken time to consider these thoughts today!
Blessings to each person who has taken time to consider these thoughts today!
