It’s so good to see everyone here together worshipping at church today. We’ve certainly been through some trying times lately and in need of something to bring us joy. This Solemnity of Pentecost, the sending of the Holy Spirit, by our Lord Jesus, is something to be joyful about! It’s a birthday celebration of the Church!
Last week we celebrated the Ascension of our Lord. Jesus had rose from the dead after spending 50 days with the disciples. He gave them a commission to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit. He left them, but told them “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” How would he always be with them? Jesus had told his disciples he would send an Advocate and Counselor to be with them. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit to empower them to do great things.
We’ve all been through some trying times lately. We’ve been confined to our homes in fear of others being around us. We had concerns and anxieties of illness and even death.
This sounds a lot like the disciples in today’s Gospel. They were gathered together in fear behind locked. They thought Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, but he been captured, and crucified. They thought the same thing may happen to them. Jesus appears to them, which probably astounded and confused them. They also may have felt ashamed and scared for having abandoned Jesus fearing retribution. But Jesus eases their anxieties by telling them twice, Peace be with you. He not only offers them his Peace, but then sends them on a mission to do the work the Father had sent him, proclaiming the Kingdom of God had arrived. How were these ordinary men supposed to carry out the work of Jesus, the Son of God? Through the power of the Holy Spirit. He sends the Holy Spirit by breathing on them. He uses his physical nature to impart his divine Spirit to empower them to spread the Good News of his dying and rising, that brings eternal life to those who believe.
Today we would really not appreciate someone breathing on us as it could bring on illness and even death. But Jesus breath was life giving, sending the third person of the Holy Trinity to be with us always. His breath gave the disciples the power to do carry on the mission of Church through the Sacraments. He specifically gives them the power to forgive sins, establishing the Sacrament of confession. What a great gift to rejoice in and celebrate!
Through the Church we’re provided the Sacrament of Baptism where we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to become adopted sons and daughters of God. We also able to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation to empowering us to be God’s instruments in the world to make disciples of Jesus. Our Priests are able to change ordinary bread and wine by the Holy Spirit’s power into the Body and Blood of Christ to make him sacramentally present and spiritually nourish us.
How does the spirit work in us? St. John of Alexander tells us the Spirit completely changes the lives of those he dwells in. It changes the outlook of those only concerned with the world to be entirely focused on God’s kingdom. It turns cowards into men and women of great courage. f This how the disciples were enablied them to hold firm proclaiming Christ, facing violence and persecution unafraid.
Each of us are united to Jesus in this same Spirit. This is how He is with us to the end of the age. But the Spirit works in each of us uniquely according to the gifts given to us. Through these many gifts we make up the one body of Christ, spreading the Gospel in each of our different ways.
As we celebrate Pentecost lets reflect on how the Holy Spirit has united with Christ during these challenging times. What gifts of the Holy Spirit have been given to you? Have you been given courage to take care of the sick at work or in your home? Were you given patience to be confined to home with family, trying to balance work, school, and family life? Was the gift of faith provided to sustain while being away from Mass and the Sacraments? Were you a leader of prayer for your family and friends to give them hope? Did you exercise charity and hospitality for your neighbor by contributing to the Harvest food pantry or feeding front line health workers? Were you to able lift the spirit of those who were isolated and lonely by reaching out to them? These have certainly been challenging times, but it’s afforded the Holy Spirit to work through us in spreading the Good News of Christ.
Over this period of being home I was able to watch of series the Wild Goose on Formed by Fr. Dave Pivonka. It helped me be more aware of the Holy Spirit and its work in my life. One thing I found helpful was to be more present to the Holy Spirit. Fr. Dave offered a simple prayer on a decade of the Rosary quietly praying, “Come Holy, Spirit”, on each of the then beads, at times throughout the day. This helped to bring about the Peace of Jesus and remind of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
So, let us rejoice in the Holy Spirit coming on this Pentecost and the birth of the Church. We are so grateful for the gift of the Sacraments of the Church to sustain, heal, and nourish us, especially the Eucharist that we are once again able to receive.
