Life in the Holy Spirit

The upcoming Sunday Mass Readings are pivotal for our mission as disciples to go into the world and tell the good news: The Ascension of The Lord and Pentecost Sunday.
Pope Benedict wrote, “It (Pentecost) marks the fulfillment of the event of the Passover, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus through the gift of the Spirit of the Risen One” (Homily, Sunday, June 12, 2011).  The “Lord, the giver of life,” the Holy Spirit descends, just as Jesus promised the apostles. They receive the power of Holy Spirit and become his witnesses.  The action of the Holy Spirit directs, guides and sanctifies the life of the community, illuminating the power of new life in the resurrection, mainly the life of Jesus ascended, the life of the Holy Spirit and the life of the mission of the church.

Promise (Acts 1:1-5)

Jesus appeared to the apostles and other disciples throughout the 40 days after the Resurrection. He gave them hope and spoke to them about the “kingdom of God.” The apostles initially  gained strength to believe, to hope and to proclaim yet were still hesitant. Jesus instructed them to wait for “the promise of the father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days,  you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” The promise of the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit sustain my life?

Ascended into heaven (Acts 1:6-11, Mt. 28:18-20)

Soon thereafter, the Lord reiterates this promise, and gives one last command, the Great Commission, a commission we embrace today as missionary disciples. “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

After this, the disciples witness Jesus ascending to heaven, in a cloud. This cloud represents the divine presence.  The apostles were filled with awe as they witnessed Jesus ascending bodily into heaven. Yet, he has not left them orphaned for he promises the Holy Spirit who will give them the power to endure.  The angels reassure this promise and offer hope as they appear as two men dressed in white asking, “Why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” What are they do? How do they, and we, witness this truth and live out the Great Commission?

Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-11)

The Acts of the Apostles, written by St. Luke, not only tells of the descent of the Holy Spirit, but  also describes the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the early church. Acts 2:1-11 details the account of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples who remained gathered in the Upper Room after the Ascension. Ten days have passed, when, “… 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.” This triumphal presence of God is one to be celebrated. Now the new law is written on the hearts (Rom 8:2) of believers by an unyielding power. The coming of the Holy Spirit gives life, as with Adam, as with the overshadowing of Mary, and as with the church, the people of God, as we profess,
“… the Lord, and giver of life” (Nicene Creed).

Come Holy Spirit, Come! Ten days after Jesus’ Ascension the Holy Spirit comes like no other. Compared to Jesus’ birth: quiet, humble, reserved for a few; the Holy Spirit literally shakes the Upper Room! The apostles are set “ablaze!” Fear was extinguished by the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit, blowing away doubt by instilling His powerful creative graces of life.

The miracle of Pentecost is still a miracle for us today. The Spirit invigorates the people of God to courageously share the good news of Jesus despite obstacles. Our hearts are set ablaze by the power of his love. We are the messengers of the good news. We are called to go forth and set the world on fire. We are the people of God!

Wind, fire and language

St. John Paul II writes, “Three basic elements mark the event (Pentecost) the sound of a mighty wind, tongues as of fire, and the charism of speaking in other languages, hence … those present in the Upper Room “were filled with the Holy Spirit” (General Audience, July 12,  1989). The coming of the Holy Spirit is likened to the wind: movement with unseen origin and unknown destiny to human eye. The same “mighty wind sweeping over the waters” (Gn 1:2), the literal breath of God. The same breath that filled Adam’s nostrils, “the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Gn 2:7). The same Holy Spirit animates the mission of the church, and fills our souls with life, in order for us to glorify God and be life-giving witnesses of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the spark which gives rise to the flame from within; fire of the presence of God; fire to stir passion; fire to follow Jesus; fire to speak the truth; fire for the path to his life. The same fire in the burning bush, as Moses accepted his calling. The same fire in the form of a towering pillar, as the Israelites crossed the desert. The same fire within the churches illuminating candles beside the ambos, on the altars and next to the tabernacles holding the real presence of Jesus. The same fire that burns within our hearts as we proclaim the word of God, offer sacrifice for others, and eat of his flesh in the Eucharist.  Fire that purifies, sanctifies and glorifies.

The Holy Spirit unites all in one common language: the language of love, willing the good for the other. St. John Paul II wrote, “One might say that the many incomprehensible languages have lost their specific character, or at least have ceased to be a symbol of division. They have given way to the new work of the Holy Spirit, who through the apostles and the church brings to spiritual unity peoples of different origins, languages and cultures in view of the perfect communion in God announced and implored by Jesus. Pentecost is a powerful manifestation of God” (Catechesis by Pope John Paul II on the Holy Spirit, General Audience, July 12, 1989).

Mission

As living missionary disciples, we are called to be open to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives every moment. We each have a personal mission, to grow in holiness by prayer and conversion; by actively participating in the sacraments given to us from Jesus and receiving the grace poured out by the power of the Holy Spirit; by embracing virtue and living the Ten Commandments and beatitudes. We as church have a corporate mission as one, holy, Catholic and apostolic. We are many people, yet one in the mystical body of Christ. We are people called to unite. We are called to deep holiness because God is holy. We are called to be saints. We are Catholic, universal, embracing all of humanity with the tender love of Jesus, as we serve others and promote a life rooted in faith, hope and peace of God. We are apostolic, as we follow in the footsteps of the Twelve Apostles, those who first received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and by the grace of God, changed the world as they proclaimed the mighty deeds of Jesus.

As a thriving community of faith, we answer the call and “go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:18-20). Witness to others your story of faith, how Jesus has changed your life, how prayer has made a difference, how helping others has led them and you to an encounter with Jesus.

Make disciples by being Christ-like to them. Invite others home to the faith, whether they are non-Catholic, Catholic but have been away, or those who do not know Jesus. Help form their faith through the power of the Holy Spirit by sharing what you know, the teachings handed on for centuries through what we learn from The Catechism of The Catholic Church. Receive Jesus in the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, and his great mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation. Live your vocation fully, with joy! And pray. Pray. Pray.

Finally, KNOW Jesus loves you, suffered, died and rose for you so that you may have eternal life. Trust in his promise of the Holy Spirit. Rely on the Holy Spirit as a daily companion. Trust and be open to God’s will. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love! Amen.

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.