Homily Solemnity of Pentecost Year C Role of the Spirit
Homily
Solemnity of Pentecost Year C
Gospel:
In John’s theology, though there is a time factor in the pascal mystery—the birth,
life, death, resurrection, ascension, the coming of the Spirit and Jesus’
second coming in glory—theologically they cannot be separated. Jesus’ death and
resurrection was connected with the coming of the Holy Spirit.
John
said that when Jesus died, he gave up his spirit, a symbol of the gift of his
Spirit to those who believe in him. On Easter, he imparts that Spirit to the
disciples. First, he shows them two things. His appearance is not that of a
ghost, but one with a resurrected, glorified body. Second, he imparts his peace
upon them—his forgiveness of their infidelity and abandonment of him.
Then
he reminds them of their future mission in the context of his own mission. “As
the Father sent me, so I send you.” What did the Father send him to do? He was
sent to proclaim the good news of salvation, to heal the sick, to set free
those under the bondage of Satan. Their mission was the same—to take his word
and actions and bring them to the whole world.
How
did Jesus in his humanity do this? Luke tells us Jesus was anointed by the Holy
Spirit after his baptism. Afterward, he went about in the power of the Holy
Spirit with signs and wonders as his credentials.
Then
he breathed on them, imparting the gift of the Spirit to them. Afterwards, he
specified one aspect of their ministry, the forgiveness of sin sacramentally.
Why
does John talk about the imparting of the Holy Spirit on Easter and Luke says
the Spirit was poured upon the disciples fifty days later? Like us, in
confirmation we receive the fresh anointing of the Spirit, but for the most
part nothing changes in us. They needed a fresh stirring up as a result of
their repentance, giving their lives to Jesus and being open.
Reading
1: At Christmas, we celebrated the mystery of the coming of the Son of God in
flesh, the birth of the God-Man Jesus. At Easter we celebrated the mystery of
our redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus, our Savior. At the
Ascension, we celebrated the completion of Jesus’ earthy mission as he returned
to the Father in glory. Today, Pentecost, we celebrated the mystery of the
fulfilled promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
What
does the first reading tell us about this mystery of revelation? Jesus had told
them before the Ascension, “in a few days you will be baptized in the Holy
Spirit…and when he comes you will receive power to be my witnesses throughout
the world.” From the Ascension to Pentecost—ten days—the disciples and Mary
were in prayer, asking Jesus to fulfill his promise. This suggests that, as in
Jesus’ own life and teaching, the Holy Spirit comes in a fresh new way as a result
of prayer.
As
they gathered in the Upper Room in prayer and sharing, the Spirit came upon
them and all were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to manifest gifts of
the Spirit. They were praising God in different languages than their own,
proclaiming the might deeds of God. With the coming of the Spirit there is a
great rejoicing.
As
we continue to read the Acts of the Apostles, we will see that the fresh anointing
of the Spirit transformed them from being fearful to being bold, from having
watched Jesus heal the sick, set captives free from the power of Satan, to
doing the same things in his name. They began to witness the truth that Jesus
is Lord and Savior, confirmed by signs and wonders.
Reading
2: Paul reminds us that even to acknowledge Jesus as Lord publicly is a grace
of the Holy Spirit. Then he reminds us that there are different gifts of the
Spirit. He identifies some of the gifts, though extraordinary, are meant to be
part of the ordinary life of one filled with the Holy Spirit. He teaches that
the Spirit produces all the spiritual gifts in everyone.
Potentially,
when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have all the gifts of the Spirit,
even though we do not always exercise all the gifts. These gifts are given for
the benefit of others. Just as the parts of the human body serve the needs of
the whole body, so the gifts of the Spirit are for the up building of the Body
of Christ.
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