Pentecost 2007

Pentecost is that special day after Jesus ascended into Heaven that He sent to the Apostles and to us, His love, the love of the Holy Trinity in the form of the Holy Spirit. In the Acts of the Apostles, 2: 1-6 we read: When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Pentecost brought mutual understanding, God's love made it possible for us to listen to and understand others regardless of race, culture, space and time. We received the gift of tongues, and an understanding of God's love for us. Some of us are very much aware of his Presence in all of our days.

"Human pride and egoism always create divisions, build walls of indifference, hate and violence. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, makes hearts capable of understanding the languages of all, as he re-establishes the bridge of authentic communion between earth and heaven. The Holy Spirit is Love. But how is it possible to enter into the mystery of the Holy Spirit? How can the secret of Love be understood? The Gospel passage takes us today to the Upper Room where, after the Last Supper, a sense of loss has saddened the Apostles. This is due to the fact that Jesus' words arouse disturbing questions:  He spoke of the world's hatred of him and of his own, he spoke of his mysterious departure; and there were still many other things to be said, but for the time being the Apostles were not able to bear the weight (cf. Jn 16: 12).

To console them, he explains the meaning of his departure:  he will go, but he will return; meanwhile, he will not abandon them, will not leave them orphans. He will send the Consoler, the Spirit of the Father, and the Spirit will enable them to understand that Christ's work is a work of love:  love of the One who gave himself, love of the Father who has given him.

This is the mystery of Pentecost:  the Holy Spirit illuminates the human spirit and, by revealing Christ Crucified and Risen, indicates the way to become more like him, that is, to be "the image and instrument of the love which flows from Christ" (Deus Caritas Est, n. 33).

The Church, gathered with Mary as at her birth, today implores:  "Veni, Sancte Spiritus! - Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!". Amen." (Previous four paragraphs from a homily by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006)

Allow God to enter into your soul and renew this celebration of Pentecost. Open your hearts to the Consoler, to the Prince of Peace. May this be a New Pentecost for all of you.

FSS 5/20/2007