The community of disciples, together with the Apostles and the Virgin Mary, gathered in expectation. The Lord Jesus, the master and teacher they cherished had returned to His glory with the Father, completing His “Passover”—the transition from death to life and the fulfilment of His redemptive mission. His resurrection was not merely a triumph over death but a revelation of the eternal glory He possessed from the beginning, which He fully enjoyed with his return to His Father. Before His departure, He reassured His followers, saying “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper/Comforter, will not come to you” (Jn 16:7). At first, this seemed a paradox. How could His leaving be good? Would their Teacher and Savior not be more valuable to them in His visible presence? This mystery puzzled me for a long time, but understanding the connection between the Jewish Feasts of Passover and Pentecost allowed me to have a deeper understanding of God’s plan for salvation.
