Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-11, 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13, John 14:15-16, 23b-26

 

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

 

The season of Easter concludes with today’s celebration, the feast of Pentecost. On Pentecost we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem; this event marks the beginning of the Church. The story of Pentecost is found in the Acts of the Apostles, today’s first reading.

The account in today’s Gospel, taken from the Gospel of John, also recounts how Jesus gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples. There is no need to try to reconcile these two accounts to each other. It is enough to know that, after his death, Jesus fulfilled his promise to send to his disciples a  helper, an advocate, who would enable them to be his witnesses throughout the world. We previously heard today’s Gospel on the second Sunday of Easter. At that time, we also heard the passage that follows, which describes Jesus’ appearance to Thomas.

In that context, we were led to reflect on belief and unbelief.  In the context of the feast of Pentecost, this reading reminds us about the integral connection between the gifts of peace and forgiveness and the action of the Holy Spirit. Jesus greets his disciples with the gift of peace. Jesus then commissions his disciples to continue the work that he has begun, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” As he breathes the Holy Spirit upon them, Jesus sends his disciples to continue his work of reconciliation through the forgiveness of sins.

This Gospel reminds us that the Church is called to be a reconciling presence in the world. This reconciling presence of Christ is celebrated in the Church’s sacramental life. In the Sacrament of Baptism, we are washed clean from sin and become a new creation in Christ. In the Sacrament of Penance, the Church celebrates the mercy of God in forgiving sins. This reconciling presence is also to be a way of life for Christians. In situations of conflict, we are to be agents of peace and harmony among people.

The Gospel today, from Saint John, tells us about the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is clear again that these early followers were cowering behind closed doors with a lot of fear. The coming of the Holy Spirit takes their fears away. These first followers seem to need peace, because that is the first greeting of the Lord to them: Peace be with you! May we know the peace of Jesus in our own lives! With peace comes the capacity to forgive the sins of others. This forgiveness is clearly a gift of the Lord who loves us. This gift is given to each of us individually and also to the Church in her ordained ministers. Today we can rejoice in forgiving all who may ever have harmed us in any way whatsoever. And we can invite others to forgive us if we have ever harmed them in any way whatsoever.

At the heart of our Christian life, fear is taken away, peace and forgiveness are given. May we dispel the fears of others and proclaim the peace and forgiveness given to us in Christ Jesus. Come, Holy Spirit.

Peace and all good!

Fr. Valery Burusu

Parochial Administrator