COME, HOLY SPIRIT

SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST

The Jewish Feast of Weeks was also known as Pentecost, as it was celebrated fifty days after Passover. It was a harvest festival during which the first fruits were offered to God. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the festival became an occasion to celebrate the giving of the Torah (Law) at Mount Sinai.

On this festive day, the group of Jesus’ disciples gathered together had a deep experience that changed their lives forever. Shaken by a powerful wind, they saw something “that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them”. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they overcame their fears and started proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus, on the day of Pentecost, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Church was born. This community of believers is built upon Jesus as the cornerstone of the new people of God, ruled by a new Law. Jesus entrusted his disciples with the mission he had received from the Father. They were sent forth to announce the Good News of the Kingdom of God, and the Holy Spirit empowered them to carry out that mission.

Today’s readings speak of the manifestations of the Spirit and his fruits in the Church. He is the Spirit of truth that guides and strengthens the Church. Being the Spirit of wisdom, he leads us to faith in Jesus, whom we recognise as the Son of God, accepting him as the Christ and the Saviour of the world. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit revealed himself through the symbols of wind and fire. God breathed new life into Jesus’ disciples, thus creating the church that will become a new humanity. The Holy Spirit came as a fire, the fire of love that will warm our lives, making it possible to live in brotherly affection with others. He is the Light of Jesus Christ, showing forth the way to the building of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit is the living water that quenches our thirst for truth, justice, love and happiness. As living water, the Holy Spirit is profoundly linked with Baptism. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote: “In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.” (1 Co 12:13). In baptism, through the Holy Spirit, we are born again, becoming children of God:  To the Romans, Paul wrote: “Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. “ (Ro 8;14-17).

With the Holy Spirit, Jesus granted his disciples the authority to forgive sins, making reconciliation possible (Jn 20:19-23). Indeed, He is the spirit of peace who leads us to become builders of peace.

With the Church, let us pray:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.