Pentecost Sunday

The first reading and the Gospel present the descent of the Spirit differently. The stories of Luke and John complement each other and teach us that the spirit is the new law, the power that enables humankind to do good. The Spirit is the source of unity (does away with barriers) and wherever it is, it destroys sin. The second reading shows us the consequences of the presence of the Spirit in a community.

           The word Pentecost means simply 50^th, the 50^th day after Jewish Passover. The Jews were celebrating that feast on which the first fruits were offered in gratitude to God, when the Spirit came on Jesus’ followers. And so Pentecost is still celebrated (among the Jews), but we who are Christians celebrate it as the day on which God sent his Holy Spirit upon the Church. The Holy Spirit is our breath. God breathes new life into us by sending us the Holy Spirit. We are created anew and together with God we work to renew the face of the earth.

           The Spirit is hard to picture because the Spirit is within us when we are in God’s grace. The Spirit is like the air we breathe, the light that goes on when we have an idea, the fire that burns in our hearts. And so the scriptures use these symbols to help us know the Spirit; in acts, the Holy Spirit is a strong driving wind that transforms a frightened group of disciples into brave and powerful, preachers who make bold proclamations about the marvels God has accomplished. Whereas in John’s Gospel the Spirit is gentle breath of Jesus who breathes on his Apostles and says “Receive the Holy Spirit”. Christ gives them the breath of new life by giving them a gift of the Holy Spirit and sends them on a mission to continue God’s work on earth.

           God wants us to know him and love him and the Spirit helps us to do that. But because the Spirit works within us, we are not aware the Spirit is even there. In Acts of the Apostles, the disciples were all together in one place. The Holy Spirit different gifts to different members of the Church so we can help each other to know and experience God and God’s love. IF we want to experience the fullness of the Spirit, we need each other, we need to come together, to worship together, to share our gifts with one another. Without the Holy Spirit we are trying to breath without air, think without light, Love without fire. May we be people who speak the truth in authentic love, a love that calls other to the truth of His great love. Regardless of our circumstance, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings. As St. Augustine says,

“Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.”