Feeling spiritually drained? Need to be healed? Trying to make a wise decision? Who you gonna call? The Holy Spirit, of course! Today's readings are all about calling on the Holy Spirit to charge our spiritual batteries, to heal us in body and soul, to help us act wisely, and to make us soldiers of Christ ready and able to defeat the forces of evil. 

Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
1 Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13
John 20:19-23

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Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” Acts 2:1-11

Luke sets the stage for the arrival of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus had promised to send. We can imagine that the 120 disciples are anxious and fearful. Perhaps the authorities are planning at this very moment to come and arrest them. All of a sudden, they hear what sounds like a mighty wind. This roaring wind is the groaning of the physical universe as it experiences the awesome power of the Spirit of God, the same Spirit that hovered over the waters before the creation of the world. Imagine the roaring sound of a hurricane without the wind! The disciples are experiencing the power of God being unleashed to recreate the world in his image! 

The tongues of fire produce no heat, for they are the symbols of the fire of God's pure love flooding their minds and hearts with extraordinary gifts of faith, prophecy, healing, knowledge, wisdom, and courage, i.e., grace. They also receive the remarkable ability to make themselves understood by others who do not even speak their language. Did the Holy Spirit temporarily lift the curse of Babel where God caused the builders to no longer understand each other as their pride led them to erect a tower to heaven? Does this universal understanding give us a glimpse of the world God intended before the fall, a world without lies and deception? The Holy Spirit is ready right now to lift our spirits. Let us open our hearts and feel his presence. Yes, we are walking on air! Such is the effect of the elevating presence of the Holy Spirit.

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Bless [the Lord], my soul.
[Lord], my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty.
[Lord], how many are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all.
The earth is full of your riches.
You hide your face: they are troubled;
you take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust.
You send out your Spirit and they are created.
You renew the face of the [earth].
Let [the Lord's] glory endure forever.
Let [the Lord] rejoice in his works.
Let your meditation be sweet to him.
I will rejoice in [the Lord]. Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

The psalmist describes the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of creation who gives life to all God's creatures. This Spirit enables species to reproduce and inspires humans to strive for greatness: to become holy as God is holy. Such conversion enables God to renew our spirit where we go from glory to glory on the road that leads to heaven!

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Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13

Paul preaches that it is the action of the Holy Spirit working in those with open hearts that leads us to believe in Christ. An open heart is receptive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and that leads to conversion and the bestowal of God's gifts on the believer. Our individual gifts serve the whole body of Christ, the Church.

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When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors

were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.” John 20:19-23

Jesus' breathing the Holy Spirit on his apostles was a preview of what the disciples experienced at Pentecost. Here the focus is on commission: God sent Jesus and now Jesus will send his apostles to spread the Good News, to convert others and save souls. And what about those who hearts remain closed and reject their message? The apostles will shake the dust from their sandals (a Jewish sign of rejection) and move on to those more receptive. Those with open hearts will receive the grace of conversion; those who reject Jesus' message will reap the whirlwind. Our decision today to accept or reject Jesus will have grave consequences as to where our soul will dwell in the future. Let us implore the Holy Spirit to help us make the right decision:

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth you Spirit and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth! O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, may we by that same light be made truly wise and ever enjoy his consolation. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Pentecost marks the birthday of the Church. Let us all thank God for his church and wish all its members a very happy birthday!

John

Jesus is our "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Today's readings are about Jesus' continual presence among his followers and the reward he promises to those who are not ashamed to express their faith in him boldly.

ACTS 7:55-60
PS 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
REV 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
John: 17:20-26

The Gospel antiphon sums it up nicely: "I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you." John 14:18

Jesus is our friend and constant companion. We can easily apply the words of Paul Simon's song, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," to the friend we have in Jesus:

"When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down."

Jesus was certainly a "bridge over troubled water" for St. Stephen when he was stoned to death.

 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep. ACTS 7:55-60

The first reading describes the death of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, in 36 CE . He obviously did not die alone. He saw Jesus, the Son of Man, now glorified in heaven, standing at the right hand of the Father ready to receive him. Jesus promised on Ascension Thursday that he would be with us until the end of the ages. And God's promises are etched in stone. Stephen knew it and Luke recorded it in the Acts of the Apostles so we would all know it.

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[The Lord] reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad! Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory. Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods! For you, [Lord], are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods. PS 97:1-2, 6-7, 9

But how does God feel about those who deny him? Psalm 97 answers that question: Shame on the man who denies the Word of God! Stephen gladly gave his life as a witness to his faith in Jesus. Like Jesus, he even asked God to forgive those who were stoning him. Out of love, God revealed himself to Stephen at his moment of death. Yet, his murder would cry our for vengeance and his murderers would eventually face God's judgment for such a shameful act. Yes, we know God is merciful, but only to those who are worthy of his mercy. The first judgment after death has come and gone for those who killed Stephen. We can only hope that some of them, like St. Paul, repented before it was too late!

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“Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus. REV 22:12-14, 16-17, 20

Jesus is not only always with us spiritually, but here in Revelation we see a warning from Jesus that his return is imminent. You might be tempted to say that we have been hearing this warning for over 2,000 years. But let us not forget that God does not perceive time as we do. He lives outside of time. Psalm 90 says that a day in our time is like a thousand years in God's time. I did the math. The average person will be here on earth about 2 1/2 hours in God's time! Our time is running out. Let us prepare ourselves now for the return of the King! Those who follow God's commandments will have nothing to worry about. They will drink of the waters of eternal life. While those who break God's laws will be judged accordingly. 

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Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John: 17:20-26

Jesus prays for those who are witnesses to his message, like St. Stephen. He prays that they will be with him in heaven. It looks like God is definitely on the side of those who are seeking to spread the gospel. Does that mean we all have to be preachers? Not really. But we can be a living example of what a good Christian is by striving to live as children of God and not of the world. And that will not always be easy. Just ask St. Stephen!

So let us keep our eyes on the prize. As Paul Simon says in his song:

Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine!

I hope to see you all in heaven where our dreams of eternal life will come true and our glorified bodies will shine as bright as the Son!

John