Ponder and Magnify: A Rosary Podcast

S2, E8 - The Pentecost Bible Study (Acts 2: 1-13)

• John and Jessica Helling • Season 2 • Episode 8

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The mission of the Ponder and Magnify Podcast is to seek an encounter with Jesus through praying the rosary, relying on the grace of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary. Join us as we dive into the Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary! In this episode, Jess, John, and Fr. Archer discuss the account of the Pentecost from Acts 2: 1-13. Praise be to God!

Jessica:

Hello and welcome to the Ponder and Magnify podcast, where our mission is to seek an encounter with Jesus through praying the Rosary, relying on the grace of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary. I am so happy that you are here. Welcome everybody. We are going to be discussing today the third glorious mystery of the Rosary, the Pentecost. I am so excited and happy to be joined again by Father Archer and John and we're ready to jump in. Father Archer, can I ask you to lead us in prayer?

Fr. Archer:

I'd be delighted, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen. Come, holy Spirit, enlighten the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who does instruct the hearts of your faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that that same Holy Spirit may teach us to do ever what is right and to rejoice in his consolation, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Archer:

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Archer:

Amen,

Jessica:

johnny, I'm going to ask you first what is your one word or phrase to describe how you're doing tonight?

John:

Tonight, at this recording, I'm feeling a little congested that's my word Even like physically, literally, but also just kind of in life, with just feels like a lot of pins in the air right now. Got nothing bad, but just a lot of moving parts at work. At home it's always a get home, play with the kids, dinner, get the kids down and then even spiritually so, with things kind of being busy with after Easter, it feels good to sit down and kind of decompress and talk with you guys tonight. Father Archer, how about you?

Fr. Archer:

I'm feeling a little bit inflammatory this evening. As I was preparing for this episode on Pentecost, the theme of fire was coming to mind and just that desire for those listening to this podcast to have an experience of what it's like to receive the fire of the Holy Spirit and that just really powerful desire of God for their well-being and for their flourishing and blessing, and so inflammatory in the best kind of way that that fire of love could be communicated.

Fr. Archer:

Jess, how about you?

Jessica:

My word for the night is going to be receptive. I am just really wanting to open my heart to receive whatever the Holy Spirit has for each of us in this conversation. I'm really looking forward to that and I also just like this word in thinking about Pentecost and receiving the Holy Spirit and, yeah, I'm going with receptive tonight. All right, Father Archer, could you please read our scripture of the Pentecost?

Fr. Archer:

Of course we're reading from the book of Acts. When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together and suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as a fire which parted and came to rest on each one of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.

Fr. Archer:

At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded and in amazement they asked Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are Parthians, medes and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, judea and Cappadocia, pontus and Asia, phrygia and Pamphylia, egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, cretans and Arabs. Yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God. They were all astounded and bewildered and said to one another what does this mean. But others said, scoffing, they have had too much wine.

Jessica:

Okay, after pausing for a little while and really taking time to let that soak in, putting us back on air here. John, what is sticking out to you about this Pentecost moment?

John:

So the end where they go, what does this mean? And you know someone just kind of tries throwing water on the fire, it's just like, ah, too much wine. It stuck out to me just because you know some people essentially just witnessed this miracle with the Holy Spirit and it just speaks to the human nature of you, can witness something, this total gift and a testament to God, the Holy Spirit, and if you're not careful you can kind of turn quickly to dismiss it. And kind of reminds me of earlier this spring.

John:

We went on a I was on a men's retreat called ignite and at night we had adoration and we processed with the monstrance and moved it to a different cabin as part of the perpetual adoration and as everyone was you know this isn't at night and so as everyone was walking out of the second cabin, everyone was kind of freaking out looking up at the sky because there was this ring around the moon and you know everyone was taking pictures of it and I was looking back at the pictures and there was, and you could even see it just like in person, but there was almost like a, like a cross, coming from the, I guess, the reflection of the moon, with, like the halo around it, and it was just like this amazing thing.

John:

And it was right, when we were in adoration, the moon was directly above where that monstrance was and it was just this really cool thing. And, like you know, some people were freaking out about it and was like, wow, this is amazing. And then other people were, like you know, googling, and it's like, oh, that's just a lunar halo and it happens every so often and it just kind of reminded me of you can be given these gifts, some more subtle than others, but not to not to dismiss them.

Jessica:

I'm so happy you shared that, John, because I know that was a big moment for you on your retreat and those pictures are incredible. I know that was such an awesome gift you all, all those men, received from the Lord. It's funny. I love these conversations because I actually hear that question of like, what does this mean? To me That instills me with great hope, because to me, that's the first step of conversion, even like pulling out the phone and being like what does this mean? How could this phenomenon be explained? To me It's something struck in their heart enough to have them look deeper, and I think the point for me, it's where we're searching for that meaning. To me, that question, though, of what does this mean is something is hitting their heart, the fact that they're searching for a deeper meaning of something that they're seeing.

Fr. Archer:

Yeah, I had an interesting conversation with someone some time ago and this person comes in to talk to me. It was in a setting where the priest was available to talk with people, either for just conversation or for confession, whatever people wanted, and it wasn't the sacrament of confession, otherwise I obviously couldn't speak about it here. But this person shared she was in a place where you would call her a seeker, where she had, you know, baptized Catholic and but was in a place in her own particular journey where the practice of the faith was not robust but she had a deep heart that was longing for communion with God. And as we were diving a little bit into her experience of God and what that was like for her, she told me pretty quickly. She said you know, I look up at the sky a lot because she heard some, probably on an Instagram post somewhere that when you look up at the sky and someone else is looking up at the sky, you're like connected with each other.

Fr. Archer:

And so for her, looking up to the sky gave a real source of connectedness and like what a beautiful image of her seeking. And I almost started laughing as we were speaking because it kind of connected in my mind that there is a one time in the scripture when God himself told a man to look up into the sky. It was with Abraham. That, when God was first making the promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, God told him like, go outside and look up in the sky

Fr. Archer:

And so for this young woman who had inherited that tradition of faith, ultimately that came through Abraham and the Jewish people and then passed down into the church, like she's, in a certain sense, Abraham's daughter and within his tradition, and when she's in a place where she's looking up for reassurance and to like to understand that she's not forgotten, like she's repeating the exact same gesture that God had commanded as a way of reminding Abraham of his promise. And uh, now, John, you're also looking up at the sky. And so some of those, some of those gestures and some of those simple things, even if we're not fully in a not everyone's in a place where they're, like, completely confident in where they are in their faith or where they want to end up, you know, eventually, but even when you're seeking, there's so much goodness, realizing like God is pursuing you, and even those like little natural signs that we have all are expressions of, in different ways, that God can communicate.

Jessica:

I.

Jessica:

It was really sticking out to me too in this passage when the Scripture said that they were speaking in their own tongues, but specifically of the mighty acts of God.

Jessica:

and I was just thinking about how God really wishes to eliminate any barrier for us between ourselves and him. He wants that full relationship with us, and so I love, John, this idea of looking for signs, or looking for him everywhere, because I do think that we have a God who desires to make himself known. It just would be so easy that we could be created and he could have just been like all right, that's it. But because He is love and created us in love, He desires to make himself known, and just what a gift it is and all these different ways that he makes that possible, whether it's this phenomenon around the moon or some conversation, or looking at the sky in another capacity. Just He's desiring in so many ways throughout our day to make Himself known to us, and I love that. That comes through in the Pentecost too, that all of these people get to hear of the mighty acts of God in their own language, because God desires to make himself known to us. I think it's also really beautiful.

Fr. Archer:

No, yeah, that's God's desire to make himself known. And something that was striking me as we were praying. A passage was actually coming to mind from another part of the scriptures Romans chapter eight, is filled with language in a description of what it means to live a life united to the Holy spirit and what St Paul says. He says the spirit himself bears witness, with our spirit, that we are children of God and if children, then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Fr. Archer:

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. And just in my ministry, it's such a grace and a blessing at times to meet with people when they're in pretty low moments and sometimes when people are not simply low because of things that happen to them, but things that they've done to themselves different kinds of addiction and different you know the various ways that we fall into sinfulness and sometimes people come to a point where they're thinking of themselves and there can be a fear. Like if I really look into my heart, I'm going to find nothing but darkness and shame and guilt and all these bad things. The deeper I go into my interiority, but the great promise that we have from St Paul in the great promise of Pentecost is that much deeper than any stain of sin or any wrong action or mistake any person has committed. That much deeper is the beauty of the indwelling spirit. And so my words to people who have been in that place of brokenness and perhaps brought about brokenness in their lives is that you are not abandoned and that there is great beauty within your soul.

Fr. Archer:

And do not be afraid to go into those deep places of your heart, to go to those memories that you have associated with shame or guilt or any such thing, but let yourself be led by the Holy Spirit of God, because he truly desires to enter in and to heal you.

Fr. Archer:

And that's part of the great mystery of the working of the Holy Spirit that underneath every disordered or fallen desire there is a good and holy desire, and he draws those good desires forth and he helps us to live in a place of freedom, of abiding with our holy desires and living from that great security, and so just images of different people were coming to mind as I was praying with that, and just how many times I've seen tears of joy coming down someone's face when a part of their life that they had been afraid to look at, the Holy Spirit led them into that in prayer, and then they emerged with such happiness, realizing that their beauty and their glory is much deeper as a temple of the Holy Spirit than any mistake or sin that they've committed

Jessica:

that's really making me think about how one of the traditional fruits of praying, this mystery, is the love of God, or sometimes they call it like the virtue associated with each mystery of the rosary.

Jessica:

But it occurred to me at one point recently while praying. I was always imagining that as like, oh, the Holy Spirit is coming in and capacitating me to love God, which, yes, But then, when I was really reflecting on it in prayer, like the Holy Spirit, when it's like I'm receiving the gift of the love of God, it's God loving me, and so I love this idea that when we come to prayer, it really is to receive the Father's love for us, and exactly like what you're saying I think is so perfectly fitting for this mystery, father Archer, because if that's like the supreme gift that we're receiving from the Holy Spirit that all other gifts are flowing out of is just this reminder that, beneath anything, we are wholly loved by God and nothing, nothing, can take that away from us.

John:

Well, I won't try to eloquently say anything profoundly, as as as you two, but just as you guys were both talking, it was just reminding me of a time where I think Jess had mentioned on a previous episode that you know we have a family member that got diagnosed with a chronic condition and was just like really really struggling with it.

John:

And I mean, like me personally, I was struggling with just processing it and just feeling really confused and and really really heartbroken over it, and I was talking to someone about that and just kind of confiding and this person I had shared with them previously and they knew I really enjoy music. It's a way for me to relax, it's a way for me to pray, it's a way for me to just kind of think. And she gave me a song suggestion and it was a don't you give up on me by Brandon Lake, and just one of the lyrics was don't you give up on me. You ain't seen what I promised. Child, We're just getting started and I just feel like that's a I don't know. Just like, as you guys were talking, those lyrics were just coming to mind and for anyone who is also a music person out there, give it a try.

John:

It's a pretty dang good song

Jessica:

.

Jessica:

So beautiful. Thank you for sharing that, John. That song it's a beautiful one. I'm glad you've let people know, spreading the word. One thing I'd also love to just bring up here and discuss that I was really thinking about with this Pentecost moment is just Mary's role in it. In our conversation before recording, Father Archer reminded us that in the first chapter of Acts, Mary is mentioned by name as being there, present at the Pentecost with the Apostles. And this just gets me giddy thinking about it, because in the Catholic Church, Father Archer, I need you to jump in here if what I'm about to say is not accurate.

Jessica:

One of Mary's titles is spouse of the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Archer:

That is correct, okay.

Fr. Archer:

Well done.

Jessica:

From my understanding, it comes from the moment of the Annunciation when the Holy Spirit overshadows Mary and the fruit of this is the incarnation of Jesus.

Fr. Archer:

Yes

Jessica:

Okay, thank you. And so, as I was praying with this, I was really thinking Mary, as spouse of the Holy Spirit. I was thinking of my wonderful spouse, John, and I was thinking about rule in our marriage is when your spouse is calling you, they get precedence, whatever is going on, even if you're picking the phone up to say I can't really chat right now or hey, I'm on the other line, are you good? That sort of thing. And so I was thinking about Mary and her direct line with the Holy Spirit and imagining her in this moment the posture I imagine her in is her really living in to her universal maternity, just desiring so deeply for the apostles and the women and all those gathered to experience the union with the Holy Spirit that she has experienced. And in a way, that Annunciation moment was kind of like her Pentecost. She experienced the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. She knew what that felt like.

Jessica:

I like imagining that Mary was there praying so fervently that the Holy Spirit would enter in to the hearts of those that were gathered and that the Holy Spirit listened. He heard his spouse calling and, in a way, her prayers beckoned the Holy Spirit. Of course it was in the Father's timing and that sort of thing, but that Mary's prayers played a role in the church being born that day and the Holy Spirit flooding in to the hearts of those who were gathered. And I just love imagining that this, like wishing of the wind and all of these, the flames over the head that there may have been a second in the hearts of the apostles and those gathered.

Jessica:

Okay, what's going on? And Mary just knew okay, they're feeling it, he has arrived. And her prayer is then just like thank you, I knew you would show up, I knew you would fulfill your promise, and so I just I love imagining her there, both under her title of Spouse of the Holy Spirit, but also just really acting as mother of the church, praying and inviting the Holy Spirit into the hearts, and just remembering that that's what she does for us too. We go to prayer whenever we're really seeking the Lord or just trying our best. Mary is there, praying, just as she was at the Pentecost, in that first moment of the church calling and beckoning the Holy Spirit to come enter our hearts, so I, just I was really enjoying imagining that.

Fr. Archer:

That's a beautiful reflection, jess, and what a great practice for the two of you as spouses. I haven't heard of that particular one before of always giving your precedence to your spouse, but there's a lot of wisdom.

Fr. Archer:

I can tell and one delightful thing is Jess and John will have me over to dinner I think to coax me to get onto this podcast. And to see the blessing of the Holy Spirit within a bond of marriage, within the friendship of marriage is really a great gift in a way that for many people calling upon the Holy Spirit within their marriage is one of the most tangible ways that His love becomes present

Fr. Archer:

and so, yeah, thank you for sharing that, jess

Jessica:

Father Archer, john, anything else that you want to add or that's on your heart to share before we wrap up here.

Fr. Archer:

Maybe just one kind of final thought. Is you kind of alluded to it? Jess is Mary as the mother of the church and the gift of the Holy Spirit, and within the Scriptures, the scene of Pentecost is the last time we have Mary directly mentioned. There's references to her later and we'll get to that in some of the other mysteries, but this is the last time she's mentioned by name and then she enters into silence and she doesn't even say anything.

Fr. Archer:

At Pentecost that's recorded. And there's a great mystery of the silence of Mary and in this mystery that the apostles begin speaking right away Saint Peter and the other apostles, they, they preach the word. There are thousands of people who begin coming into the church and yet behind all of the activity of the church there's this beautiful contemplative presence of the Blessed Mother that she lives out her life and she's there, abiding with the grace of the Holy Spirit, being cared for by St John, and in her silence and in her prayer, so much grace and fruit is born for God's kingdom, for God's new family.

Fr. Archer:

And sometimes it can be the silence of Mary that can be the most consoling thing for us that when there are challenges or when we're feeling called more deeply into the mission to do good for the kingdom of God, it's often in her silence that we can find that hidden and quiet strength, that strength that she gave to the first apostles. And so when you are praying the rosary and you're feeling like it is particularly quiet that's not always. That doesn't mean you're being ignored. Sometimes it means that there's the gift of Mary's silence, that same kind of silence that strengthened the hearts of the early church.

Jessica:

I love that. That's a true, just a true word of just encouragement to keep praying, no matter how it feels when you're doing it. Just I love that and oh yes, Mary, just so good. Thank you so much for sharing that. John, Father Archer, what a gift it is to chat with you about these great mysteries and particularly just to think about Pentecost and the ways that it's touched our hearts and continues to, and for all of our listeners, we really pray. We join Mary in her prayers, praying for you that the Holy Spirit would enter your hearts and just help you to know, as Father Archer so beautifully said earlier, just the love that the Father has for you. So know that we are continuing to pray for you and please, please, we ask you humbly to pray for us. Praise be to God.