Happy Pentecost Sunday! Veni Sancte Spiritus!!! Today is a joyful celebration focusing on the teaching of the Church concerning the third person in the Holy Trinity, which some Christian religious sects could hardly understand. One of these religious sects calls it “God’s force,” which they use to translate the name, Holy Spirit, in their bible. Some of these groups also use other terminologies that match their mind-set. It seems to go in circles with each view trying to confuse their followers, and they never listen, not getting it, not understanding what the Holy Spirit truly is.
Our father St. Augustine is one of the most important Fathers of the Church, who wrote substantial teachings on the Trinity and, of course, part of it is the Holy Spirit. It is our understanding that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the three persons in one God. The Trinity acts as one divine unity. The Holy Spirit cannot be understood separately from the Father and the Son. Some Catholics make a separation of the three persons. Of course we can do that only in their works, but not in essence of the Oneness of God. St. Augustine emphasizes the Father as Creator, the Son as the Redeemer and the Holy Spirit as the Wisdom, the giver of the knowledge. No one knows or loves the things of God except through receiving His Spirit.
Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 is a surprising event of “strong driving winds” and the appearance to the Apostles of a “tongue as of fire, which parted and came to rest in each one of them.” They would understand the many languages around them, of course with the help of the Holy Spirit in that understanding and the finding of God in their midst. They were overjoyed with such an amazing event in which the Spirit rested more upon the Apostles and others around them. Through the Acts of the Apostles, we have known the mighty acts of God which present a new beginning of a bountiful harvest of believers on the day of Pentecost. Moreover, the gifts of the Holy Spirit become the source of God’s power animating every part of the community and transforming the community into the body of Christ.
The gospel taken from the evangelist John 14:23-31 points forward to the time after Jesus’ resurrection when the Holy Spirit would be with them and would teach them, saying, “But the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind whatsoever I SHALL HAVE SAID TO YOU.” Jesus is actually pointing out that the Holy Spirit will be a helper for them to remember what He had been teaching them. The Holy Spirit will not add nor delete what has been said by Jesus Christ. Then later He said, “Peace be with you.”
Jesus ends His discourse by giving both assurance and warning. Jesus knows that his disciples are having difficult times, challenges, and sufferings while they live in this world. Jesus will never leave them orphans for they lived in Christ and He afforded them peace, because He has overcome the world.
There are two actions rendered by Jesus to His disciples, that we must take note seriously as follows:
First, Jesus offers them “Peace.” This is the gift of healing the disciples’ weak human condition. Jesus gifted them peace because of His disciples’ complacency and healed them to complete commitment and sense of fidelity. I do agree that “Peace” is a necessary gift they need to possess as a condition for His sending them, because no one can proclaim God’s word if there is no inner peace! Every prolific preacher derives his effective preaching by means of being at peace with God, others, and himself.
Second, the giving of the Holy Spirit. The breathing of the Spirit transforms the disciples’ whole-being from fear into courageous followers, then sends them to proclaim the gospel daringly and fearlessly. It is the breathing of new life into His followers and upon the earth. Our human fragility has been reinforced by the Holy Spirit to be strong and to gather fruitful harvest for God.
Brothers and Sisters, today is not simply a liturgical celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost. It is our new birth within the Church. We are also gifted by God with peace and the Holy Spirit. At every mass Christ is exhorting to all of us, “Go in Peace.” Where are we being sent? To whom do we go to bring peace?
May we continue to be open to the Spirit, the Breath of God, the giver of courage, the one who overcomes our fear. God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
