Weeks 781-790

 

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 781: Holy Spirit (Acts 2 :1-11 ; 1 Corinthians 12 : 3b-7, 12-13 ; John 20 : 19-23)

 

[Acts]

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."

 

[Corinthians]

Brothers and sisters: No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

 

[Matthew]

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

 

Reflection

Fellow pilgrims, we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost 50 days after Easter, which tells of the day when the Risen Lord fulfilled his promise to the apostles (Jn 14:16;15:5-15; Acts 1:4-8) by sending the Holy Spirit from the Father, as their Defense, Comforter, Paraclete, Teacher, Counsel, Strength and Power; and to inaugurate the Church and fill her with the power to live and fulfill her destiny and mission - as the sacrament of Christ and salvation. 

 

The Catechism noted that at Pentecost, there was the full revelation and recognition of the Holy Spirit; but the Spirit of God had been active in the Old Testament, in creation, in the prophets and life of Christ (CCC, n.732). Both the Hebrew and Greek word for the Spirit meant a breath, air or wind; thus, highlighting the Spirit’s manifestation as the source of inspiration, life and movement of God’s people. So, today as then, the Holy Spirit (1) comes to us as teacher of the meaning and depth of revelation, (2) gives us grace and power to understand Church teachings and to know Christ, (3) gives us the wisdom to see how to apply the teachings in our lives, and (4) gives us courage to witness to believers and unbelievers alike about God’s love and salvation. the Holy

Spirit aids us with our relationship with God and in our ministry to others (cf. Rom 8: 26-27; 1 Cor 12:3-7).

 

At the vigil, we read of the ‘Tower of Babel’, where the people intended to build a city and Tower to make a name for themselves (Gen 11:4). It reminded us of the sin of our first parents who were deceived as the serpent said: “You certainly will not die…when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods…” (Gen 3:4-5). As Adam and Eve failed, so were the Tower builders, who were then scattered; for they pursued independence from God. God intervened in a dramatic way so that the evil of selfishness, self-centeredness and human independence from God was prevented. Now, in the events on Pentecost, the scattered nations and languages came together to understand the one language that focuses on the great news of God’s love and salvation brought by Jesus. This was accomplished by the Spirit who gifted the apostles to speak that one language of creation’s dependence on God’s love, as those present said: “…we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God” (Act 2:9-11). We can only overcome in life if our lives and all we do are rooted in the one true God and not in our ‘own-self-made-god’.

 

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles in the form of flames of fire (Acts 2:1-4) and imparted on them gifts and charisms for the mission of witnessing to the gospel and for service to the community; for no one desires them just for personal sake (1Cor 12:4-7). The 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Courage, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of God, already noted in Isaiah (11:1-3). Thus, imparted with these gifts, the apostles boldly went out and witnessed the gospel as Jesus commanded (Mt 28:16-20), bearing the fruits of the Spirit; usually listed as 12: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Modesty, Faithfulness, Self-Control, and Chastity (cf. Gal 5:22-23). This is the life lived according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh (Rom 8:8-17). Also, living out the fruits of the Spirit is the way we manifest the tongue of fire enkindled in us by the Holy Spirit; and thus, participate in renewing the face of the earth, and positively affecting people’s life as Jesus’ disciples. St Cyril of Jerusalem said of the Holy Spirit, “...he acts differently in men while himself remaining unchanged …To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good... he comes to save, to heal, to teach, to admonish, to strengthen, to console, to enlighten the mind, first of the man who receives him, then through him the minds of others also” (Instruct. to Catechumens, 16). Finally, with the feast of Pentecost, the Easter Season comes to an end, and we resume the Ordinary Time of the year, continuing from week 8. Peace!

 

Fr. Francis Chukwuma

 

Prayer: Prayer to Receive the Holy Spirit “O King of glory, send us the Promise of the Father, the Spirit of Truth. May the Counselor Who proceeds from You enlighten us and infuse all truth in us, as You have promised. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “Come, Holy Spirit. Spirit of truth, you are the reward of the saints, the comforter of souls, light in the darkness, riches to the poor, treasure to lovers, food for the hungry, comfort to those who are wandering; to sum up, you are the one in whom all treasures are contained. Come! As you descended upon Mary that the Word might become flesh, work in us through grace as you worked in her through nature and grace. Come! Food of every chaste thought, fountain of all mercy, sum of all purity. Come! Consume in us whatever prevents us from being consumed in you.” —St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Where have you seen people building the equivalent of the Tower of Babel in our culture?

2. Do you feel that your life and all you do are rooted in the one true God and not in your ‘own-self-made-god’?

3. Which gifts of the Holy Spirit do you see within yourself?

4. Where have you seen the fruits of the Spirit in the community around you?

5. Where have you seen the fruits of the Spirit in your own life?

6. Do you pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit the nine days leading up to Pentecost every year? Why or why not?

7. Do you have a devotion to the Holy Spirit?

8. Do you have a favorite season of the liturgical calendar?

 

-Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP