Receive the Holy Spirit
Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost! We mark the time when the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles who then began to go to many places and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Because of that, this day is often referred to as the birthday of the Church. All of our Scripture readings speak of the power of the Holy Spirit. Reflecting on the Holy Spirit has much to tell us about how we are called to be disciples today.
In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:1-11), we have Luke’s account of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, appearing as tongues of fire descending on each one of them. After this, the apostles go out of the place where they were and start proclaiming the Gospel to the crowd of Jews that had gathered there because they heard a loud noise like that of “a strong driving wind.” Even though the crowd that had gathered came from different parts of the world and spoke different languages, they could understand what the apostles were saying.
Remember, these apostles were the same ones, not so long before this, that had locked themselves in a room for fear of what might happen to them after Jesus was crucified. Now they are fearless in speaking about Jesus and the “mighty acts of God.” The Holy Spirit has the power to drive out fear. The Holy Spirit has the power to bring people together. The Holy Spirit has the power to enable us to proclaim the Good News in ways that people can understand.
We may not have received the Holy Spirit in as dramatic a way as the apostles did, but when we were baptized we received the Holy Spirit just the same. The question is whether we are willing to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. In our second reading (1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13), St. Paul writes, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” The “benefit” St. Paul mentions is not meant to be some material benefit to us, but a benefit for others.
In our Gospel reading from John (20:19-23), when the Risen Jesus appears to His disciples in the upper room, He first says, “Peace be with you.” Then He says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Then, He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit has been given us so that we can love and serve as Jesus commands.
Are we willing to listen to the Holy Spirit? Are we willing to be led out of fear or complacency and into wherever we need to go? Are we willing to welcome people in instead of pushing people away? Are we willing to listen to others so as to be able to understand them and be able to speak in ways that they can understand us, by our actions as well as our words? The need may arise when we are called to make a “loud noise,” so that people can hear about God’s love above all the other voices that are out there.
And are we willing to do all this out of love and compassion? I know that many preachers, referring to the imagery of that first Pentecost, call for “fire in the pews.” And we definitely need that, because manifestations of the Spirit have not only been given to us as individuals but also as a church. But that fire has to be a fire of love, not of hate or destruction! Even as we work for justice, are we not proclaiming God’s love in Jesus Christ?
May we listen to Jesus again: “Receive the Holy Spirit. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
Come, Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth!
I welcome any comments or questions. Thanks for your time.
In the Holy Spirit,
Phil, CP
