NO CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT THE PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE
It is an indisputable fact that no Christianity or Christian is living without the Pentecostal experience. This is because it is the Pentecostal experience that transforms, renews and makes us authentic witnesses of Christ in the world.
With the seal of the Holy Spirit, we are all Pentecostals. The Pentecostal experience is not only the birth of Christendom or the Church. It is the renewal experience that launched us to the Christian life and grace.
THE FEAST OF PENTECOST
One of the supremely great days of the Christian Church is the day the Holy Spirit came upon the praying and waiting apostles, disciples, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pentecost, is a feast celebrated fifty days after the resurrection of the Lord and ten days after the ascension of the Lord. It is a feast of the birth of the Christian Church founded by and in Christ Jesus through the action of the Holy Spirit.
Etymologically, the word “Pentecost” in Greek “Πεντηκοστή”- “(Pentēkostē)” means “fiftieth”. It refers to the festival celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover, also known as the “Feast of Weeks” and the “Feast of 50 days” in the rabbinic tradition of God’s Covenants with Noah after the flood and with Moses at Mt. Sinai.
That is, it is also a Jewish feast, the Jewish Pentecost was originally a post-harvest thanksgiving feast. Later, the Jews included in it the remembrance of God’s Covenants with Noah after the Deluge and with Moses at Mt. Sinai.
THE DAY OF PENTECOST
Pentecost is a memorial of the day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and the Virgin Mary in the form of fiery tongues. An event that took place fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus. The Paschal mystery of the Passion, the Death, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of Jesus culminates in the sending of the Holy Spirit by the Father at the request of His Son on Jesus’ disciples.
The descend of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit of truth and the indwelling Spirit: the one who comforts, helps, guides, teaches, directs, strengthens, reminds, transforms, sanctifies, illuminates, and abides at all times is one of the most important feasts of Christendom. It is the birth of the Church: Christ’s Mystical Body.
OUR THEME
The readings of this Sunday remind us of who is the Holy Spirit, what is His role in our lives and how can we experience Him in our lives personally or communally. In other words, the scripture readings remind us that Pentecost is an event of both the past and the present.
The main theme of today’s readings is that the gift of the Holy Spirit is something to be shared with others. In other words, the readings remind us that the gift of the Holy Spirit moves its recipients to action and inspires them to share this gift with others. For us to bear witness to the gospel value in a complex world like ours we need the Pentecostal experience that transforms the apostles from cowards to courageous witnesses.
FIRST READING: ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2:1-11
The first reading gives a vivid account of the Pentecostal grace and experience of the apostles. Endowed with Power from above they manifested the fullness of the Spirit: in tongues, prayers, prophecies and testimonies.
In this reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke gives a live image of the happening Pentecost:
1. Assembly of prayer waiting for the Promise or Strength from on high or above.
2. The sound, signs, and appearance of the Holy Spirit in the TONGUES OF FIRE.
3. The speaking in tongues of the wonders of God which the diversified assembly understood perfectly.
4. The confusion and amusement of their listeners, that comes with tagging or name-calling `drunkards.
5. Peter´s explanation and admonition in a fiery and courageous manner and the augmentation of the convinced believers.
In all, the Spirit of God on this day gives energy to the apostles and sends them out on their mission to be bearers of Christ to all people. This is the Pentecostal experience that we all need to become missionaries of Christ.
PSALM 103 OR 104
In the responsorial Psalm, we pray, “Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” Where we are asking God for a “fresh anointing” of the Spirit for all of us.
The deep fact is that we all need this newness or freshness of the Holy Spirit to renew, transforms, guide and lead us through the Christian life.
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:3-7, 12-13
In the second reading, St. Paul talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit as a personal or individual gift but for a common purpose of the Body of Christ: The Christian Church. In other words, though the gifts of the Holy Spirit are personal, they are for the glory and honour of God and in service to all in the Christian community.
It is through the Spirit that Christ works in his community, the church. The Christian Church for Paul is a Pentecostal Church that is full of the action of the Holy Spirit in virtually all the thought, did and said in the name of Christ.
THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CHRISTIAN LIFE
1. As an indwelling God, the Holy Spirit makes us His Living Temples (I Cor. 3:16).
2. As a strengthening God, He strengthens us in our fight against temptations and in our mission of bearing witness to Christ by transparent Christian lives.
3. As a sanctifying God, He makes us holy through the Sacraments:
a. He makes us children of God and heirs of heaven through Baptism.
b. He makes us temples of God, warriors and defenders of the Faith, through Confirmation.
c. He enables us to be reconciled to God by pardoning our sins through Reconciliation.
d. He gives us spiritual nourishment via the Holy Eucharist by converting bread and wine into Jesus’ Body and Blood through Epiclesis.
4. As a teaching and guiding God, He clarifies and constantly reminds us of Christ’s teachings.
5. As a listening and talking God, He listens to our prayers and enables us to pray, and He speaks to us mainly through the Bible. Rom. 8:26
6. As a giver of gifts, He enriches us with His gifts, fruits and charisms. 1 Cor. 12, 13 & 14
ALTERNATIVE SECOND READING: ROMANS 8:8-17
This alternative reading gives us the insight that our Christian life is a life in the Spirit. It is only through the Presence of the Holy Spirit that we can bear authentic testimony to Christ in the world.
Paul asserted that you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ
The implication is that our Christian life is not in the flesh, but a life in the Spirit. The Pentecostal renewal of active and participating life in grace.
THE GOSPEL: JOHN 20:19-23
In the gospel of the day, Jesus gave his apostles and disciples the Holy Spirit to continue the mission of Jesus. That is, the merciful mission to reconcile us to God and one another.
In other words, the apostles and disciples receive the Holy Spirit to continue the mission of Jesus Christ: to preach, teach, heal, to celebrate the forgiveness of sins to all without exception. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love, Grace, Truth, and above all Mercy.
Jesus assures us of the Holy Spirit as the Power from the above acts. 1:8, the Comforter Jn. 14:16, Advocate Jn. 14:16, Paraclete Jn. 14:16, Helper Jn. 16:7, Teacher Jn. 14:26, Memory Jn. 14: 26, and the Spirit of Truth Jn.14:17
However, the absence of the Holy Spirit poses a danger to Christians, the Christian life as well as the Church. It leaves us vulnerable, manipulative and lost in falsehood.
WE NEED TO PERMIT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR LIVES
1) By constantly remembering His holy presence and behaving well;
2) By praying for His daily anointing so that we may fight against our temptations and control our evil tendencies, evil habits and addictions;
3) By asking for His daily assistance to pray, listening to God through meditative Bible reading and talking to Him; and
4) By asking the help of the Holy Spirit we may do good for others and be reconciled with God and others every day.
THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
Paul in the letter to the Galatians 5:16-25 gave us a clear warning of what less life in the Spirit means for us, the Christian community and the Church: immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
While the fullness of life in the Spirit implies: the fruit of the Spirit ~love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, modesty, chastity, generosity, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.
Finally, the Holy Spirit is (1) an indwelling God, (2) a strengthening God, (3) a sanctifying God, (4) teaching and guiding God, and (5) listening and speaking God, he enables us to pray and listen to our prayer as well as speak to us through the Holy Bible, (6) a Giver of life and gifts, He gives us the breath of life, eternal life, His gifts, fruits, and charisms, thus enriching the Church.
OUR PRAYER
Holy Spirit! Come and fill the hearts of your faithful and rekindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth, your Church and life. Come upon us today, guiding us in love, truth and forgiveness. Lead us to unity in the Church and faithfulness in preaching the gospel. Above all, guide us on the path of right living and away from the values of this world. Amen
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