The Solemnity of Pentecost (B); May 19, 2024
Acts 2:1-11. Ps 104. 1 Cor 12:3-7,12-13. Jn 20:19-23
Deacon Jim McFadden
In today’s first reading of our Liturgy, the coming of the Holy Spirit is presented in dramatic fashion—comparing it to “the rush of a violent wind”
(Acts 2:2). What does this image tell us? It makes us think of a powerful force that is not an end in itself, but brings about change. In our ordinary experience we see this all the time: the wind brings forth a cold front into a warm day; the wind precedes a rainy, wintery storm. The wind simply brings change.
The Holy Spirit, on a wholly different level does the same. He, the 3rd Person of the Holy Trinity, is the divine force that changes the world. The Spirit enters into situations, especially our lives, and transforms them. In sum, he changes hearts.
How so? Jesus told his disciples: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses (1:18). That is exactly what happened. Those disciples were huddled in the Upper Room, fearful of venturing out less they undergo what happened to Jesus. And, they took this defensive posture despite the fact that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead—that he was alive! The Spirit breaks through their self-protective wall so that, as Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “they bear witness to him”
(cf. Jn 15:27). No longer hesitant, no longer staying stuck in their security system of the apartment, they are courageous—they are bold. Starting from Jerusalem, they go forth to the ends of the earth. Keep in mind that while the Risen Christ was with them, they were still timid! But, when he is gone at the Ascension, they become bold and embrace Christ’s Mission to proclaim the Good News of salvation. Why the change: the Holy Spirit changed their hearts!
The Holy Spirit frees hearts chained by fear. He overcomes resistance. Just look at our wounded and divided nation. We are riven by social injustice, systemic racism, gross inequalities of wealth and opportunity. We are afraid of one another: those who don’t think like us, don’t look like us are the enemy: so, we stay locked behind closed doors of our cultural silos. If our hearts are closed to our fellow Americans, we will be closed to God.
But, the Holy Spirit, just as he did on the first Pentecost, will do the same today: he will open our hearts that are slammed shut. He compels the comfortable to leave their security systems to go out and to serve, especially the marginalized, the vulnerable, and the poor. He drives the self-satisfied to go out in new directions: not where they want to go, but where the Father is calling them just as he did with Abraham. He makes the lukewarm, the fence straddlers to thrill to the presence of the Risen Jesus and to dream of new possibilities that can promote fellowship and solidarity rather divisiveness and alienation.
There are plenty of people, especially politicians, who promise new beginnings, big changes, a New Frontier, a Great Society, or the promise that “I alone can fix it?!” But, history teaches us that no earthly attempt to change reality and completely transform our society can be done without God. The Holy Spirit does not rearrange the furniture of our political, economic, and social relationships. No, the Holy Spirit changes our hearts, which empowers us to make real change in our relationships.
The Holy Spirit is no panacea for our myriad problems, both personally and socially. But, the Spirit liberates us from within so that we can face our problems head on. This transformation doesn’t happen all at once, but is a gradual process giving us the confidence to forge on knowing that God is the Doer and we are his instruments. When we are enliven by the Holy Spirit, we never grow weary of life: we don’t experience burn out because we’re always being renewed by the loving energy of the Holy Spirit. Bob Dylan once sang, that may we be “forever young.” The Holy Spirit is the only power that can keep us young—we’re forever enjoying a renewed youth because as Jesus told Nicodemus we are being reborn. Our society tries to prolong youth with body modification, botox injections, and all sorts of cosmetic enhancements. But, this kind frantic attempt to prolong youth, sooner or later fades away. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, prevents the only kind of aging that is unhealthy: namely, growing old and decrepit from within.
How does the Holy Spirit do this? By renewing our hearts, by pardoning our sins, by infusing us with the seven gifts that enable us to follow the Way of Jesus. Here is the great change that we celebrate this Sunday: from being trapped in our sin, we become liberated; from being slaves to a transcendent Being, we become his friends as Jesus told us. From being worthless nobodies, from being disillusioned by the dysfunction of our society, we become people who know that they are the beloved children of God which fills them with hope. By the working of the Holy Spirit, our existence is raised to a new and higher level as we experience his fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (cf. Gal 5:22-23).
Today, as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, let us recognize that we are in need of real substantial change that only the Holy Spirit can bring about. Let’s not get downcast, wearied by the pandemic and its aftermath, let us not get discouraged by the burdens that each one of us carries; let us not be overwhelmed by our own weaknesses, and not give into the temptation of giving up when loving others, especially our enemies just seems so hard. In these moments, we need the “jolt”, “rush of a violent wind” into our hearts, which is the power of God. In the Nicene Creed we proclaim that the Holy Spirit “is the Lord and giver of life.” Let us be open to this reality—let us be open to the “jolt” of the Holy Spirit everyday of our lives. So, we say when we wake up in the morning, “Come, Holy Spirit come into my heart, come into my day.” Amen.
Reflection Questions
- Do you sometimes stay huddled in your “Upper Room,” afraid to venture out and proclaim the Good News?
- How has the Holy Spirit liberated you from a heart that has been chained by fear; how has the Holy Spirit energized you to be a bold and robust Catholic?
- The Holy Spirit is the only power that can keep us “forever young.” Do you feel “forever young”?
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