Pentecost Sunday:

DOCTRINE AND FAITH

(Acts 2,1-11; 1 Cor 12,3-7.12-13; John 20,19-23; Pentecost Sunday: Year A)

            Several times, especially in his farewell speech, Jesus promised his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit: I will not leave you orphans...; I will send the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth...; You will receive the Holy Spirit.  Fifty days after Easter, exactly on the feast of the Jewish Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled his promise as Luke narrates to us in the Acts of the Apostles. John in his gospel, rather links the effusion of the Holy Spirit on the same day Jesus rose from the dead. He wishes to indicate that the Holy Spirit is the most precious gift that emanates from Jesus’ love of, and obedience to, the Father. 

         
  One could ask: Why did Jesus send the Holy Spirit? Why did he consider the Holy Spirit necessary for the Apostles and the Church? The Holy Spirit was sent to the apostles and to the Church so that they would be enabled to continue the mission of salvation, for which Christ came into the world, a mission that neither is limited in time nor in space. Jesus himself enunciated:Just as the Father has sent me, in the same way I send you (Acts 20,21); Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to all creation (Mark 15,16). Note the entrust and the continuity of the mission: the mission of evangelization came from the Father to Christ, then from Christ to the apostles and from the apostles to the Church. This mission does not only comprise the proclamation of the Gospel, but specially, the liberation of man from slavery of sin, the interior restoration/recreation of the human person through the grace of God and in conformity to the sanctity of God.  The Holy Spirit was given to the Apostles and the Church in order to enable them carry out this marvel of liberation and recreation especially through the remission of their sins: Whoever you forgive their sins, will be forgiven (John 20,23). Again the Holy Spirit was sent so that humanity that was dispersed and divided,  on account of sin, could find its unity and oneness in the Church, speak the same language, profess the same faith, recognize one another as brothers and sisters and form one single human family as we pray in the third Eucharistic prayer: Give (O Father, the fulness of the Holy Spirit so that we become in Christ one body and one Spirit. It is, however, to be noted that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not only once at Pentecost that is at the beginning of the Church. Luke, the Evangelist in the Acts of the Apostles recorded other effusions of the Holy Spirit. It all means that Pentecost, that is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is a continuous occurrence in the Church for her renewal Acts 4,31; 10,44-47; 19,1-7). 

            St. Paul in the second reading of this Sunday carries the discussion on the Holy Spirit to a more intimate, individual and personal level as the coming of the Holy Spirit does not only concern the Church as a community but also the individual believer in the Church: We all are baptised in one Spirit to form one body. The Holy Spirit makes a multitude of people one body and unites us individually, one person to the other and each one of us to Christ, the Head. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church, the primary cause of her unity and the sanctification of each of her members. The Holy Spirit also enriches every singular believer with particular gifts (charisms): To each one is given a particular manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good. The gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit to each member of the Church is to the advantage of the whole body. The Spirit is the primary source of the various, and inexhaustible wealth of charisms of the Church. 

            One would want to know how the Holy Spirit functions today. What are the signs of His mysterious presence? Firstly, the Holy Spirit works through the ordinary and extraordinary Magisterium of the Church. Assisted by the Holy Spirit, the Church is the infallible teacher of the truth, the truth about Christ, as Jesus promised: The Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name will teach every thing and will make you remember all that I have said to you (John 14, 26). Amidst the darkness of this world and in the midst of many errors, the Church had never been unfaithful to the teachings of Christ or wanting in proclaiming the purity of the Gospel. We are certain that the Pope and the Bishops are guided by the Holy Spirit when they speak in the name of Christ, and proclaim the truth of the faith. Secondly, the Holy Spirit works through the Sacraments. St. John has clearly stated that the Church can forgive sins not by her own powers, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that is given to her. The same can be said about the other sacraments. It is the Holy Spirit, the Creator Spirit, who at Baptism sees that the baptised is born to new life; who with His power makes Christ presence real in the bread and wine in the Eucharist; who in marriage sanctifies and elevates purely human love to participate in the love of God; who transforms a man at ordination to be another Christ, as he participates in the Priesthood of Christ and who also comforts the sick in the Sacrament of the sick, purifying the soul from every stain of sin. 

            The effects of the work of the Holy Spirit can still be seen in the ordinary and every day activities and lives of people. It manifests itself in those who make heroic sacrifices in the service of our needy brothers and sisters, in war areas, famine and diseased places. The Holy Spirit manifests itself in those who with love and devotion care for handicapped/abandoned  children and weak elders. The effects of the work of the Holy Spirit can also be seen among those who work for the cause of justice and peace at all levels. We see the work of the Holy Spirit among our people who in various ways suffer either physical  or moral persecution because they stick to the practice of their faith, refusing involvement in any form of corrupt practices and cheating in our society. We see the effect of the work of the Holy Spirit in all who show integrity, sincerity and honesty of life in their profession in the midst of ramification of corruption. We see the work of the Holy Spirit in people who love those who hate them, pardon those who have offended them and who carry with dignity, strength and equanimity their daily crosses and sufferings. We see the action of the Holy Spirit in these category of people: in those who generously consecrate all their lives to God and to the benefit of their brothers and sisters in the priesthood and religious life and who are heroically committed to their vows/promises of obedience, poverty and celibacy; in all the married couples who live up to the demands of their state as man and wife and as good parents to their children; in children who reciprocate their parents’ love shown to them and help their parents in their old age, at times, not minding difficulties and sufferings such care entails. The above examples show that the Holy Spirit continues His work in the Church and in the world. May we conclude with a solemn act of faith in the Holy Spirit, the Lord of life who guides and sustains the Church; who sanctifies and comforts us. May we finally invoke the Holy Spirit: Come Holy Spirit, come into the Church, on those who lead it, on every one of us so that we may become courageous witnesses to our faith in Christ and remain in His love.  

+John I. Okoye