Transcript
The story of Pentecost, although celebrated liturgically fifty days on from the feast of the Lord’s Resurrection, forms a single event within the story and event that is Easter. In particular, it follows on immediately after the Ascension of the Lord and the receiving by us the Church of the commission to be witnesses, martyrs to the power of the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord. In today’s first reading we hear the account of the coming upon the apostles, and the whole Church, of the Holy Spirit. The birth and sanctification of the Church to be the mission of Christ, a witness to His salvation, and a living sign of God’s life of mercy, and love. Many gifts united by God in one community. Many languages formed as the living Gospel of Christ. Many parts now forming the Body of Christ and united in the one Spirit to our Head, the Risen Jesus. A communion of brothers and sisters that extends through time and exists in different places to manifest the people of God, a sacrament of salvation and of Christ. Pentecost empowers human beings to live the life of the Trinity and to proclaim in, and out of season, the Good News of God. In the birth of the Church, in its life is also a sign of God’s risen life for every person, every human community. Today we do not remember with nostalgia a one off event. Rather this is a continuous action of the Holy Spirit that has gifted us in order to allow us to be participants in the risen Life of Christ, to witness to God who recreates all things a new through the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray, Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.