Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, we celebrate Pentecost, one
of the most important feasts in the life of the Church. But to understand its
full meaning, we must first remember what Pentecost meant for the Jews.
The word Pentecost comes from
the Greek Pentēkostē, meaning “fiftieth.” It was celebrated fifty days
after the Passover as the Feast of Weeks, a time to thank God for the
first fruits of the harvest and to remember the giving of the Law to Moses at
Mount Sinai. So while the Jews were celebrating God’s gift of the Law,
something even greater was happening, the gift of the Holy Spirit, written not
on stone, but on human hearts.
The Spirit in God’s Plan of Salvation
From the beginning, the Holy Spirit
has always been present in God’s plan. At creation, the Spirit hovered over the
waters (Gen 1:2).The prophets were inspired by the Spirit to speak God’s Word. And
in the fullness of time, the angel said to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come
upon you” (Lk 1:35).
Jesus himself promised the coming of
the Spirit. He called Him the Paraklētos the Advocate, the Helper, the
Comforter. In John’s Gospel today, Jesus says: “If you love me, keep my
commandments, and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate
to be with you forever.”
This Advocate is not an optional part
of the Christian life. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot understand the Word,
we cannot live as children of God, we cannot witness to the Gospel. He is the
soul of the Church and the power behind every true Christian life.
The Coming of the Spirit:
Fulfillment of Prophecy : What happened in that Upper Room in Jerusalem was the fulfillment
of prophecy. The prophet Joel said: “I will pour out my Spirit on all
people... your sons and daughters will prophesy... Even on my servants, both
men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28–29)
Jesus told his disciples to wait in
Jerusalem until they were “clothed with power from on high” (Luke
24:49). To be clothed with the Holy Spirit means a lot in the life of every
Christian. And so they waited together in prayer. And then it happened: The
Gospel understood by everyone, no matter their culture. The confusion of Babel
in the Old Testament was reversed by the Spirit of Communion. This was the
moment the Church was born with fire.
Why Every Christian
Needs the Holy Spirit: St. Paul tells us in Romans: “If anyone does not
have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” (Rom 8:9). The
Spirit is the one who makes us sons and daughters of God. He helps us cry out “Abba!
Father!” (Rom 8:15). He gives us the confidence to live as children of the
light. Without the Spirit, we live in the flesh, which means we are
driven by fear, selfishness, and sin. But with the Spirit, we are led by grace,
peace, and love.
We need the Holy Spirit to: Pray as we should, to Forgive those who hurt
us, to witness to Christ in difficult moments, to Persevere in trials, to Discover
our unique gifts and mission in the Church.
How Do We Receive the Holy Spirit?
We receive the Spirit first in Baptism,
and then in a deeper way in Confirmation. But Pentecost reminds us that the
Spirit is not a one-time gift. He must be welcomed daily. Jesus
says: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love
him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)
To receive the Spirit more fully, we
need three things: the Desire His presence ardently: Ask and you shall receive.
Be Open to Him, and Let go of pride, sin, and fear. Obedience: The Spirit is
given to those who want to follow Christ sincerely.
What Are the Signs
of the Spirit in Our Lives? : The Spirit doesn’t always come with
loud noise or visible fire. But He always brings fruit. As Paul tells us
elsewhere, the fruit of the Spirit is: Love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal
5:22–23). If these are growing in us, even slowly, it is a sign that the
Spirit is at work.
He also gives gifts, wisdom,
understanding, courage, and more, so we can serve the Church and evangelize the
world.
Today, my dear
brothers and sisters, Let us allow the Holy Spirit transform our lives now and
forever.
The Church needs the Spirit.
Our families need the Spirit.
You and I, we cannot live the Christian life without Him.
So let us pray today with all our hearts:
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle in us the
fire of your love. Renew the face of the earth and begin with us🙏🙏🙏.
Amen.
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