5.26.2012

Pentecost: Honoring the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Acts 2:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
Second Reading: First Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13
Gospel: John 20:19-23
http://www.easterbrooks.com/cgi-bin/Cathcal.cgi?20120527

The celebration of Pentecost originated from the Jewish firstfruits, and celebrates the universal Church by commemorating the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.

The readings this Sunday offer the same theme: universality and unity stemming from individual backgrounds and talents to overcome and achieve peace and forgiveness.

The first reading reminds us of the overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit as it ascends upon the crowd during the firstfruits. A gust of wind blows in and Jews from all backgrounds are united in one tongue (or language).

The second reading refers to our individuality by reminding us that “there are different kinds of spiritual gifts…different forms of service…[and] different workings.” And, in the third reading Jesus comes to the Apostles while they are afraid and locked in the dark. In their time of need, “he breathe[s] on them and [says] to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

These readings show us what the Holy Spirit really can do for all of us, for I believe that the Holy Spirit is most profoundly felt in our relationships with one another, just as the scripture has laid out for us in these selections. We have individual gifts that God has given us and it is only in our relationships with others that those gifts come to fruition. Just as a writer writes to be read, a painter paints for his works to be seen, and a performer anticipates the attention of an audience, we need one another to shine in the glorified ways that God has given us through the Holy Spirit.

I believe this is true in our own personal lives. Whether we encounter a stranger or a friend, our character and our energy comes from God but takes its form in how we decide to use it. One of the things I often struggle with is what to do with the profound gifts that surround me. I have family and friends with whom I have been through the toughest of times, but the Holy Spirit remains ever present and they surprise me with bouts of compassion, loyalty, and devotion. When I am overcome with the love we have for each other I can think of nothing but the overwhelming thankfulness in the energy and affection that we have created. To me, that is the Holy Spirit in its greatest form because when two or more people feel this connection, they automatically share it with others.

I think the best piece of today’s readings is in the responsorial psalm. When you read this passage, think not only of the Lord, but of those close to you:
“When you hide your face, they are lost. When you take away their breath, they perish and return to
the dust from which they came.
When you send forth your breath, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.”

There are some things we simply cannot live without. This is truly what links us. For me, the awe I have felt from the beauty of the world, the unexplainable “coincidences,” and the endless blessings are enough to believe in God’s splendor.  As Catholics, we are often asked the question, “What is the Holy Spirit exactly?” The answer is, “It is not wholly explainable.” That is why it is so majestic and powerfully moving. So, I have come to respond with, “Whatever moves you.” This may sound vague and all encompassing, but I assure you it is not. You simply know it when you experience it. Perhaps it is because of one another that we are able to acknowledge the gifts that move us.

Today, I am moved by the last line of the responsorial psalm: “May my theme be pleasing to God; I will rejoice in the Lord.” “My theme…pleasing to God.” I will be praying for that all week.