Once upon a time, there was a dark cave deep inside the recesses of the earth. The cave had never seen any light; it didn’t even know what light was. One day the sun invited the cave to come up for a visit. The cave was amazed at the light, and it invited the sun to come down into the earth for a visit, because the sun had never seen darkness. The following day, the sun came down into the cave. The sun looked around, and asked, “Where is the darkness?"
Where the sun is present, there is no darkness, just light. Likewise, the Holy Spirit brings light and life to a world that is filled with much darkness and many shadows. The Holy Spirit turns those who’ve been walking in darkness into new creations in Christ, into children of light.
The story of Pentecost is familiar to us: how with a rush of wind and flame upon each disciple, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon Christ's followers and the Church was born. Today, we gather with other Christians around the world to celebrate Pentecost as a time to be reborn in the Spirit, as a time of renewal for our Church. But what does Pentecost really mean for us today? What are the implications of Pentecost in our modern lives of faith?
Like many aspects of our faith, looking at our roots in light of Jewish traditions brings about greater understanding and insight into our own Catholic faith. As Pentecost takes place 50 days after we celebrate Easter, we can juxtapose Pentecost with the Jewish celebration of weeks called Shavuot, which takes place 50 days after the Jewish Passover. Just as Pentecost joyfully celebrates the Holy Spirit’s arrival and our Church’s birth, Shavuot celebrates God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites on Mt. Sinai. Shavuot marks the grain harvest in ancient Israel, giving food and new life to God's people. For Christians, Pentecost as the formation of God's Church is the seed of a kingdom that is here and now, but also the fulfillment of the kingdom that is yet to come. Seeing Pentecost today as a force of new life and new birth in our lives can have great implications on our life of faith.
We can better understand what Pentecost means for us by seeing how Pentecost changed the lives of the first followers of Jesus. Today’s Gospel starts out with Jesus' followers not seeming to be very confident or very brave. They are gathered together in the upper room, hiding in fear. Yet, right before Jesus ascends into heaven, he told them that he would not leave them orphans, but would send an advocate and counselor to be with them once he returned to the Father. The outpouring of the Spirit came upon them, just as Jesus promised. The early Church, clothed in the promise that Pentecost brings, continued Jesus' mission. The Holy Spirit continues in this same way today. St. Augustine of Hippo tells us that what the soul is to the body of a human being, the Holy Spirit is in the Body of Jesus Christ, which is the Church. The Holy Spirit acts in the Church as the soul acts with the members of the body.
As we hear this familiar story about Pentecost, we might ask ourselves if we are sure that we desire the Holy Spirit to come into our lives in the same way the Spirit came down on the disciples during this holy occasion. In his letter to the Church at Corinth, St. Paul writes: “to each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” In other words, to each individual, the Spirit gives those gifts and desires to make the dream of Jesus come true. The Spirit is sent to us in order to animate and take control of our dreams and desires. The Spirit does not empty us of our love and compassion, but rather re-directs them to the Gospel of Jesus and to the will of God. The Holy Spirit calls us out of our fears, out of the darkness, into the light, love, & life of God. The Spirit called a quiet school teacher to tenderly and tenaciously care for the poor in the streets of Calcutta, transforming her into Mother Teresa. The Spirit animated members of our youth group to go to Cincinnati in July to participate in Catholic Heart Work Camp and to be of service to the poor. The Spirit has animated our Knights of Columbus council here at St James to proclaim the Gospel of Life and to contribute to pro-life causes here in Tupelo in a very profound ways. If we are open, it is amazing to where the Spirit will take us.
Let the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Pentecost, renew us & enlighten us every day of our lives as we journey as followers of Jesus:
1. Come, Holy Spirit, send your driving wind upon us. Blow away the cobwebs in our hearts and minds; give us the fresh air of the breath of Jesus.
2. Come, Holy Spirit, give us new tongues to speak the good news of peace, justice, and non-violence in a world of war, injustice, and violence.
3. Come, Holy Spirit, send your blazing fire upon us, so that we may burn with love and compassion for each other and for all human beings everywhere.
4. Come, Holy Spirit, send us into the world and into the streets to bring Jesus to others, to denounce the evil spirits of violence, greed, war, empire, & death. Let us proclaim to all God's reign of love, mercy, compassion, and reconciliation.
5. Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with the joy of Christ, so that no matter what we are going through, no matter what problems we have, we may always live in you.
6. Come, Holy Spirit, make us instruments of your peace. Help us to live the reality of Pentecost in our words, in our deeds, in our hearts. AMEN. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
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