Before ascending into heaven, Jesus told his disciples to remain in Jerusalem and await the coming of the Holy Spirit. We heard that on Ascension Thursday just ten days ago. The disciples did this, and in today’s first reading we hear an account of that powerful day when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. With a noise like a strong driving wind, and tongues as of fire that came from the sky, the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples and gave birth to the Church. This is such an important moment that an entire column of our stained glass windows is dedicated to it. Those of you in the main body of our church will find it in the third to the last column there to your left. The Church would go forth to the ends of the earth proclaiming that Jesus was the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God, through whom God offers us forgiveness of our sins and eternal joy in heaven. From this day forward, the disciples would go on to courageously and boldly preach the Good News, even in the face of being arrested and executed. That’s how life-changing this moment was for them.
And because those first disciples responded to the working of the Spirit within them, the Church grew. And through the response of countless Christians through the ages, the faith has been handed on from generation to generation, making it possible for us to gather today to hear this message of salvation, to celebrate the liturgy, to receive our Lord in the Eucharist and his many graces in the other sacraments.
Today, it rests on our shoulders to respond to the promptings of the Spirit in our lives and contribute our part in the building up of the kingdom of God. And, in case we feel inadequate or not up to the task, St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading that we have all received that same Spirit that the first Christians received. At our baptism, we were given that same Holy Spirit who filled them with great courage and zeal for the Gospel. Through the sacrament of confirmation, we received the fullness of the gifts of the Spirit to better equip us to fulfill the particular service to which we are called.
And when we think about that service, let us remember that we are not just talking about volunteering at our parish and helping our loved ones and neighbors in need. These are all good things to do for the good of our parish and your loved ones and your neighbors but our motivation must be that the Holy Spirit sanctifies us and our goal must be to bring about the sanctification of others. What does this mean, what does it look like?
Let me use you, our parents and grandparents as a good example. You teach your children and grandchildren the rules of life, and help them learn and practice the skills necessary to live well in society. But, unlike those who focus only on this life, you have a much deeper motivation. You allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through you for your sanctification and the sanctification of your children and grandchildren. As you use the gifts of the Holy Spirit – wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord – you and your children and grandchildren are able to enjoy the fruits of the Holy Spirit: charity, self-control, goodness, generosity, gentleness, peace and joy.
Of course, this applies to all of us whether we’re at home, at work or school or in the neighborhood or traveling. As we share the message of God’s love, we all come to experience these fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit and especially the joy and that inner peace that are among the greatest of the fruits of the Spirit.
So, on this day of Pentecost, let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and transform us so that all we do may be oriented to our sanctification and the sanctification of those around us, that we may lead ourselves and each other ever closer to our God.