Pentecost

05-23-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

In John, Jesus bestows the Holy Spirit on Easter Sunday Evening. While the Acts of the Apostles put this event at Pentecost, fifty days after Easter. Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of John rely on two different traditions. But it suffices to say that although different in presentation, it is good to know that the Apostles and the disciples received the ordinary and extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit. That is, on Easter, Christ gave the Spirit to a limited number of people, then at Pentecost, the extraordinary gifts to all present.

Among all the communities established by Paul, Corinth is considered the most charismatic in some ways. People in this community see the gift of the tongue as the most prominent and charismatic. St. Paul, who probably has all the charisms, tries to lead them to the proper valuation of gifts. For him, the most valuable charism is the virtue of love (1Cor. 13:113). He adds that the gifts are for building up the community. For the body of Christ, the Church, and not for personal or private gratification.

In the Farewell Discourse of Jesus, He did tell them that they will weep, mourn, and be in anguish when He leaves them. But He assures them He will come back, and they will see Him again. The appearance of Jesus to the Apostle is the fulfillment of this promise: He came and stood in their midst. He greets them twice with the greetings: Peace be with you. The greetings of Peace be with you intend to drive away their fears and restore them into communion with the Father.

Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, and in the Gospel (John 20: 1923), Jesus says: As the Father has sent me, so I send you. He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. In the Incarnation, God the Father sent His only begotten Son to save the world and humanity. At Pentecost, the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit upon us to renew the face of the earth, and confer to the Apostles the power to forgive sins.

Today, let us also pray for those in Public Office. A wise priest once said that people in public service need the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, they end up doing selfservice, doing a public disservice, and sometimes become public nuisance themselves. Let our prayers be: Come, Holy Spirit, we need you. Come, Holy Spirit, we pray. Pray this constantly, especially in times of decisions, in every word we say, in every work we undertake. Invoke this prayer and see more clearly the lures of the world, and hear the voice of the Good Shepherd that guides and directs us.

“When we encounter crossroads, we think that it’s already the end, but to God, it is just a bend. The journey goes on. Pause and rest if we must, and get our bearings again; let go, let God, the mission continues. Yes, the journey goes on.