Whitsunday (Pardon me, your Anglicanism is showing.)


I make a big deal about Pentecost and encourage everyone to wear red on the day the Church commemorates the arrival of the Holy Spirit. The color red symbolizes the tongues of fire that appeared over the heads of the believers in Jerusalem on that Pentecost morning. This tradition flows from Scripture and makes sense to our modern sensibilities, but this was not always the tradition.

Dating back to the 13th century, white was the color most associated with Pentecost as it was traditionally a day for people to be baptized (that is still true).  Those that were to be baptized usually wore white clothing to symbolize their cleansing from sin, so the day was known as “White Sunday.”  It appears that other members of the congregation also wore white, perhaps in solidarity, to reflect their own washing away of sin.  And culturally at that time, red was considered vulgar, only worn by those of ill repute.

As with many old English terms (i.e. “God’s Friday” became “Good Friday”), “White Sunday” was contracted to be “Whitsunday.”  In an era and place that was very homogeneous, holy days directly influenced the timing of public activities, like feasts and festivals. “Whitsunday” was the start of “Withsuntide,” which was a public holiday (about a week) at the start of summer. 

Amusingly, even Anglicans in the 13th century misunderstood the meaning of the contraction, as John Mirk, and Augustinian canon from Lilleshall Abbey, Shropshire wrote:
“Goode men and woymen, as ȝe knowen wele all, þys day ys called Whitsonday, for bycause þat þe Holy Gost as þys day broȝt wyt and wysdome ynto all Cristes dyscyples” [Trans: “Good men and women, as we all know well, this day is called Whitesunday, for because that the Holy Ghost has this day brought wit and wisdom into all Christ’s disciples.”]

I LOVE this interpretation, that the Holy Spirit brought us “wit and wisdom” to use in our ministries!  Rather than a focus on proper sartorial sensibilities, the celebration of Pentecost is about acknowledging the gifts of wisdom (perhaps with some wit!) we receive from the Spirit of God. This also tasks us with using these gifts for God’s purposes, taking time to discern what the Spirit is saying and/or leading us towards to share God’s love.

Imagine what the Church would be like if we allowed the Spirit’s wit and wisdom to guide everything we do. I believe that the Holy Spirit is still waiting to set the world on fire with her presence. Even from the day of the Spirit’s arrival, there have been sceptics of what it was all about and how to participate in the Spirit’s work.  Two thousand years later and the Church is STILL trying to figure the Spirit out. 

I suggest we let the Holy Spirit IN - into our hearts, minds, and souls.  While wearing red is a great reminder that the Spirit is present to us ALL THE TIME, unless we accept the gift of her presence and allow her to move us, we are only going through the motions. Yes, this is both exciting and scary, but I have absolute faith that the Spirit will lead us into all truth.  It may be different than what we expect, but I am sure it is exactly what we need. 

Put on some red (or white, if you’re feeling retro!) and let us welcome the Holy Spirit this Whitsunday and make Whitsuntide a glorious celebration of wit and wisdom!

In the Power of the Spirit,
Rev. Valerie+

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