..... Solemnity of Pentecost.

              

(Acts. 2:1-11; Gal. 5:16-25; John 15:26-27; 16:12-15: Solemnity of Pentecost, Year B)

“This is the day of Pentecost, Alleluia! Today the Holy Spirit appeared to the disciples in the form of fire and gave to them his special gifts; he sent them into the world to proclaim that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, Alleluia!” These words taken from the Divine Office (Magnificat antiphon of the Vespers of Pentecost Sunday precisely) summarize the mystery we celebrate today.  For many biblical commentators, the feast of Pentecost marks the birth of the Church, the ‘formal’ inauguration of her mission.

In today’s first reading, we are presented with the account of the dramatic fulfillment of that promise for an advocate, which Jesus made to his disciples.  He made the necessity of the descent of the Holy Spirit very clear to them. As we see in today’s gospel: the Spirit will be with them forever, teach them everything and remind them of all he had said to them.  In other words, the Holy Spirit will be the sign of the perpetual presence of the Godhead among the faithful and a dynamic force that will bring them to perfect understanding of the meaning and demands of the Good News. 

Descending on the apostles, the Holy Spirit freed them from the clutches of timidity and fear.  The disciples who, prior to the unique Pentecost experience, lurked fearfully behind closed doors, came out boldly proclaiming Christ in different languages and made an unprecedented number of converts in just a day.  The same Peter who could not stand the questioning gaze of the young lady at the house of the High Priest, the night Jesus was arrested, was able to stand up to deliver a wonderful homily in perfect defense of the experience he and others had when the Holy Spirit descended on them.

The Holy Spirit continues to do in the Church today, what he did among the disciples on the day of Pentecost.  He continues to lead the members of Christ’s body that is the Church, into deeper understanding of their mission.  The Holy Spirit equally empowers the individual Christian to conquer self and grow in holiness.  St. Paul captures this work of empowerment vividly in today’s second reading:  “If you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence….” 

Therefore, as we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit today, let us pray that we experience his full impact in our lives as the disciples did. Making the words of the Pentecost Sequence ours, we implore the Holy Spirit thus: “Heal our wounds, our strength renew; on our dryness pour thy dew; wash the stains of guilt away; bend the stubborn heart and will; melt the frozen, warm the chill; guide the steps that go astray”. I wish you many returns of God’s choicest blessings on this day, the solemnity of Pentecost. Happy Solemnity of Pentecost.

+John I. Okoye