The Spirit and the Children of God
Father Phil Paxton, CP
To All,
This Sunday the Church celebrates Pentecost Sunday. We mark the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, which begins the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ, and therefore the beginning of the Church.
In the option for the second reading for Year C (Romans 8:8-17), St. Paul writes, “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through the Spirit that dwells in you. Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”
We did not receive “a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.” The apostles themselves are a prime example of this. In the Gospel reading which can be used every year (John 20:19-23), John tells us that after the crucifixion, the disciples locked the doors where they were, for fear of what might happen to them. But their fear does not keep Jesus away. And He says, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you…Receive the Holy Spirit…” In our first reading from Acts (2:1-11), we hear Luke’s account of the Holy Spirit. Again, the disciples, along with Mary, are gathered together. First there is “a noise like a strong driving wind,” and then there are “tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them.” And the ones, who were once so afraid that they locked themselves into a room, come out and begin to tell the good News, speaking in different languages, so that all those who came to the place because of that noise could understand what they were saying! They were no longer slaves to fear!
In the Spirit, we cannot fall back into fear, or greed, or apathy or hate. If we believe the Spirit’s witness that we are indeed children of God, we must also believe that others are also children of God, even those whom we are convinced are outside of God’s love.
What kind of “noise” are we called to make? At the same time, we are encouraged not to give in to fear, we are not called to try to strike fear into the hearts of others. The world does not need to hear the sounds of more rolling tanks, falling bombs, or gun shots fired in anger. The world does not need to hear the sounds of any more wailing children who have been orphaned, or wailing parents who have lost their children. We are not hear to make sounds of derision and ridicule of those who are different.
No, we are called to make a different kind of noise. We are called to speak in ways that anyone can understand; not only by the words we say, but by the things we do. Are we willing to act with the Spirit of knowing we are God’s children, and so are they? Are we willing to suffer for making the noise that brings others to God’s love in Jesus Christ; the “noise” of justice and peace?
Come, Holy Spirit, renew our hearts, and renew the face of the earth.
I welcome any comments or questions. Thanks for your time.
In the Crucified and Risen Christ,
Phil, CP