Holy Spirit

“All were filled with the Holy Spirit.

They began to express themselves in foreign tongues

and make bold proclamation

as the Spirit prompted them.” --Acts 2:4

In today’s gospel reading, we learn how Jesus breathed on his disciples, literally

“in-spiring” them with the Holy Spirit. We do not read, however, that the receipt of this gift resulted in any immediate behavior changes. A week later, the disciples were found in the same room, still behind locked doors, afraid to leave the safety of the world they already knew. It wasn’t until fifty days later (ten days after Jesus ascended back to the Father) that the disciples’ lives began to bear witness to the Spirit within them. It is important to note that this change occurred after much prayer—nine days to be exact (the first novena!): left “alone” after the Ascension of their Lord, the disciples prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide them, to show them how they were to continue the work begun by Jesus.

The disciples’ prayers were answered with force and clarity! “All,” St. Luke says, “were filled with the Holy Spirit…[and] began to…make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them.” Not one of them was left unsatisfied or unchanged. St. Paul tells us in our second reading today that “To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7) Each one of us, without exception, has a special role in continuing the work of Jesus Christ on earth. How do we discover that role?

First of all, we need to recognize the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us, “breathed” on us at our Baptism and sealed at our Confirmation. Like the disciples, we most likely did not jump right into doing the Lord’s work the minute we received these sacraments. Probably, to some degree, we have stayed behind our locked doors where we feel safe. If we recognize that our Lord has given us this Advocate, though, we can take the next step.

Like the disciples, we need to pray, and continue to pray, that the Holy Spirit will come to us anew and fill us with the wisdom and the courage to discern and carry out the unique work God has for each one of us, our own “manifestation of the Spirit”. No one else can fill the role that you or I have been given. Let us pray that as we recall that Pentecost long ago we may ourselves experience the flames of the Holy Spirit coming to rest on each of us and inspiring us to unlock the doors and become all we were created to be.

“Come Holy Spirit,

fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created,

and You shall renew the face of the earth...”

Blessings and peace to you all,

Monica