Catholic Bible Study – Glorious Mysteries: Pentecost

Podcast: Catholic Bible Study
Host: Augustine Institute
Guest: Dr. Mark Giszczak, Professor of Scripture, Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology
Episode Date: December 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary: Pentecost. Dr. Mark Giszczak joins the host to unpack Pentecost’s biblical roots and significance—its origins as a Jewish feast (Shavuot), its re-interpretation in Christian tradition, and its connection to both biblical history and the sacramental life of the Church, especially Confirmation. The conversation explores Old and New Testament passages, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and the Marian dimension of Pentecost, aiming to deepen listeners’ understanding and devotion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pentecost: From Jewish Feast to Christian Mystery

• Pentecost’s Roots:

  • Begins as the Jewish Feast of Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks, from Leviticus (00:27–00:42).
  • “It comes seven weeks after the Feast of Passover. And you’ll notice… our liturgical calendar is set up in the exact same way.” — Dr. Mark (00:45)
  • It is intertwined with Jewish agricultural life (the wheat harvest) and one of three major pilgrimage feasts where Jews gather in Jerusalem.

• Pilgrimage and Global Gathering:

  • By the time of Jesus, Jews lived across the Roman world; pilgrimage to Jerusalem was often a rare, significant event (01:48).
  • Acts 2 notes visitors from many regions, underlining the festival’s universal reach.

2. Pentecost in the Story of Salvation

• Transition to Christian Meaning:

  • The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost comes ten days after the Ascension (02:30–02:54).
  • Connection between experiencing God’s presence and being empowered for mission:
    • “The Lord wants to penetrate our hearts… Pentecost represents that for us. It’s a moment of interior conversion, but it’s also a moment of empowerment.” — Dr. Mark (02:58)

• Link to Confirmation:

  • “It seems like the analog in the sacramental life would be Confirmation, where the Holy Spirit comes upon us.” — Host (03:57)
  • At Confirmation: “You’re receiving this infusion or this outpouring of the Holy Spirit in order that you might be empowered… to bring the gospel to other people. And we can’t do that on our own.” — Dr. Mark (04:09)

3. Scripture Reading: The Pentecost Event (Acts 2:1–4)

• Description from Acts:
  • “Suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind... tongues as of fire distributed and resting on each one of them... all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” — Host [reading] (05:04–05:29)

4. Pentecost as Fulfillment of the Old Testament

• Sinai and the First Pentecost:

  • The counting of days in Exodus reveals that the original Pentecost was God’s revelation at Mount Sinai after the first Passover (05:29).
  • “If you think of Pentecost as a moment of God’s revelation… it’s recalling God making himself manifest to the people back in Exodus at Mount Sinai where God appears on the mountain as fire and smoke...” — Dr. Mark (05:29–06:33)

• Prophecy Fulfilled:

  • Peter connects the event to Joel 2: “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…” (07:01)
  • Numbers 11:
    • Moses’ wish: “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit on them.” — Host [quoting Numbers 11] (08:09)
    • The Pentecost event fulfills this yearning: now, not just a few, but all receive the Spirit of prophecy.

• Loss and Restoration of the Spirit of Prophecy:

  • Second Temple period (Herod’s Temple) is marked by the absence of prophetic Spirit; Pentecost restores this:
    • “This moment of the Holy Spirit coming upon the apostles and turning them from mere apostles into prophets… is a restoration of the Spirit of prophecy that had been lost.” — Dr. Mark (10:40–11:26)

5. Biblical and Theological Symbolism

• Missing Elements of the Second Temple:

  • The Shekinah, Ark of the Covenant, Urim and Thummim, sacred fire—these are restored symbolically at Pentecost in the apostles’ experience (11:44).

• Where Did Pentecost Happen? Temple or Upper Room?

  • Tradition holds it was in the upper room, but a strong biblical case can be made for the Temple, given the large assembly and the text’s language:
    • “A lot of Bible scholars think that the reference to house indicates the Temple… 3,000 people were added to their number that day... I think they're in the temple when Pentecost occurs.” — Dr. Mark (12:33–14:43)
  • This strengthens connections with temple themes: restoration, public witness, and the fulfillment of Israel’s story.

6. Marian Dimension and Spiritual Application

• Mary’s Presence: Model of the Church and Disciple

  • “As one of my friends put it once, she’s more church than anyone else... She embodies what it means to be church, and so it makes sense for her to be there.” — Dr. Mark (15:25)
  • Mary is the embodiment of perfect receptivity to the Holy Spirit, a disposition all believers are invited to imitate (16:37–16:54).
  • Parallel between Annunciation (Holy Spirit comes upon Mary) and Pentecost (Holy Spirit comes upon apostles): Luke crafts these bookends to connect the Incarnation and the Church’s birth.

• Living the Mystery

  • “As we pray this mystery of the rosary … we’re beggars before our Lord. Just hands open… in imitation of Mary.” — Host (16:54)
  • Newly established feast: Mary, Mother of the Church, celebrated the day after Pentecost (17:48).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Experience of Pentecost:

  "There's something really important about not just knowing the sort of objective teachings of the faith, but coming to ... experience God's presence ... and that's at that experiential moment that ... the faith comes alive for us."
  — Dr. Mark (02:58)

• On the Significance of Confirmation:

  "You're receiving this infusion or this outpouring of the Holy Spirit in order that you might be empowered ... to bring the gospel to other people. And we can't do that on our own."
  — Dr. Mark (04:09)

• On Prophetic Fulfillment:

  "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit on them."
  — Host [quoting Moses; Numbers 11] (08:09)

• On the Restoration of Prophetic Spirit:

  "This moment of the Holy Spirit coming upon the apostles and turning them from mere apostles into prophets … is a restoration of the Spirit of prophecy that had been lost."
  — Dr. Mark (11:26)

• On Mary as Model Disciple:

  "She embodies what it means to be church ... and she exhibits for us what it means to be a receiver of the Holy Spirit ... Mary embodies that spirit of receptivity which we all need."
  — Dr. Mark (15:25–16:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:27 – Pentecost as a Jewish feast (Shavuot) and its Old Testament roots
• 02:30 – Placement in salvation history: 10 days after the Ascension
• 03:57 – Pentecost and the sacrament of Confirmation
• 05:04 – Scripture reading: Acts 2:1–4
• 05:29 – First Pentecost at Sinai; God’s manifestation
• 07:01 – Peter quotes Joel 2; the gift of prophecy
• 08:09 – Numbers 11; Moses’ longing for all to be prophets
• 10:40 – Second Temple’s loss of prophecy; Pentecost as restoration
• 11:44 – Missing elements in the Second Temple, restored at Pentecost
• 12:33 – Was Pentecost in the upper room or the Temple?
• 15:25 – Marian dimension; Mary at Pentecost
• 16:54 – Praying the mystery: Receptivity and spiritual application
• 17:48 – Mary, Mother of the Church: new feast after Pentecost

Concluding Thoughts

This rich, insightful conversation invites listeners to see Pentecost not just as a historic or liturgical event, but as a living mystery — connecting Old and New Testaments, fulfilling ancient longings for prophecy, and empowering each believer to witness through the Spirit. With Mary as model and the apostles as living stones, the episode ties together biblical scholarship and spiritual devotion in an accessible, inspiring way.