LET US BE DIRECTED BY THE SPIRIT

SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST - John 15:26-27, 16:12-15

In the solemnity of Pentecost, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the community of the disciples, thus constituting them into the Church of Jesus Christ. The Spirit belongs to the realities that cannot be seen and proven, but his presence and action become so present in our lives that we cannot doubt them. The Holy Spirit is perceived by the signs that lead us to Him and make us aware of Him. The disciples were gathered in prayer when they experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as wind and fire.

The wind and spirit go together The spirit, like a mighty wind, hovered over the waters and made the creation possible (Gn 1:2). Then, God created Adam by insufflating the breath of life into him. The Holy Spirit may come in a whisper that hardly can be heard or become powerful like a tornado that uproots us from the old ways to take us to the new covenant, in which, united to Jesus Christ, we become a new creation. May the Holy Spirit come and renew us so that we become the beloved children of God.

The fire reminds us of the burning bush (Ex 3:1-6) in which God revealed himself to Moses and of the pillar of fire (Ex 14:19-20) that guided and protected the people of Israel in their journey through the desert. It is a purifying fire (Is 6:4-7) that enables them to proclaim the Good News and be true witnesses of Jesus Christ. Jesus presented the Holy Spirit to the apostles as the “Spirit of truth” that “will lead you to the complete truth”. He is a witness to Jesus and enables the disciples to become witnesses as well. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that “no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:3).

It is by the Holy Spirit that we are born again as children of God in baptism, being grafted in Jesus Christ and becoming one with him. In his letter to the Romans, Paul advises us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Ro 13:14). And that is made possible by the Holy Spirit. In the second reading, taken from the letter to the Galatians, Paul enumerates the virtues of those who allow themselves to be guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit: 

“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.

  Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.” (Gal 5:22-25)