IN THE ONE SPIRIT WE WERE ALL BAPTISED

THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST - Acts 2:1-11

Pentecost was a Jewish feast celebrated fifty days after the great feast of Passover. It was the feast in which the Covenant, the receiving of the Law and the setting up of the People of God were celebrated. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke gives a new meaning to the feast. Thus, in Pentecost, we celebrate the new covenant and the new people of God, filled with the Holy Spirit who grafts them in Christ, thus becoming one body in Christ.

The liturgical readings of this solemnity make it clear that the Church is different from any other human organisation, set up by a group of individuals with human goals and rules. The Church belongs to Christ. He is the head and the centre of the Church. There is no other reason for the Church’s existence, but Christ. Upon the Church, Christ sent the Holy Spirit to “renew the face of the earth.” As at the beginning of creation (Gn 1:2), the Spirit comes upon humankind as a mighty wind to breathe new life and a new purpose - for the glory of God to be present and active in the life of his people.

The Holy Spirit comes down on the disciples as God’s burning fire (the bush) which does not consume and destroy but purifies and sets up a people strengthened and united by the fire of love, the only commandment that we must carry out faithfully.

The first chapters of the book of Genesis present humanity going astray and moving further and further away from God. Human beings have their own project for society, and that project ends up destroying harmony and peace and setting up division. In the book of Genesis, the story of the tower of Babel (Gn 11) is used as a symbol of humanity separated from and in conflict with God. The Pentecost celebrates a new creation, called to live in harmony and peace, but upon a diversity of tongues, tribes and nations. The Gospel is a universal message that is to be preached to all peoples of the earth and in all languages. Despite all the diversity of races, tribes and nations, all are called to be one.

However, this new people of God can only become a reality when recognising our sinfulness, we accept being redeemed and saved. The new people of God is a reconciled people, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. In the Gospel of John, Jesus breathes the Spirit upon his disciples, as he entrusts them with his mission and with the ministry of reconciliation.

According to Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians, we are led to Jesus by the Holy Spirit, who makes it possible for us to proclaim that “Jesus is Lord” (1 Cor 12:3). We were all baptised in the Holy Spirit so that we become one. The differences among us should not create division but should be put at the service of others so that everybody grows to maturity in Christ.