We all know that Pentecost marks the birthday of the Church. Birthdays are a time of celebration and recognition of our beginnings. They are times to reflect on our identity: what makes us who we are. Our readings today reveal important aspects of who we are as a Church.
In the first reading, we hear the Holy Spirit described as a strong driving wind that fills an entire house. Imagine the power of this moment. It is inescapable and full of energy. 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. We experience this same vitality in the Church’s work today as a force for good in the world. At a time when there is so much division and discord, we are a sign of unity and peace. Like all parishes, our parish brings together people of all different walks of life to share in our common life of faith. Like those first followers of Jesus Christ, we come together to pray and worship God. We also gather to learn about and be strengthened in our faith, both here at Mass and as children in school or PREP or as adults in Bible Study, Walking with Purpose, or at Knights of Columbus meetings or at Men’s or Women’s Evenings of Reflection. And, based on our belief in a loving God who calls us to love one another, we undertake a variety of works of mercy to demonstrate God’s love and care for his children as we meet the needs those in our community, at our sister parish, St. Martin de Porres, or those in need around the world. In each of these moments and in so many more, we can experience the movement of the Spirit, directing us forward together.
Notice, the first reading this morning describes the Holy Spirit as resting on each of the disciples. All of us, through baptism and, in its fullness through confirmation, have received that same Holy Spirit. And, this powerful gift is not given only for our own benefit but to be shared. In fact, each of us has a part to play in the Church. We hear that very clearly in the second reading today. As Saint Paul teaches so well, there are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord. There are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. God has deliberately given each of us our own spiritual gifts to serve the world. Although our gifts are different, we are one in the Spirit. Many of you are very generous in sharing your gifts and I commend you. Those of you who are a little hesitant to share your gifts, I encourage you to step forward. We need your unique talents to continue to enlarge our Church.
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus appear after his death and resurrection to his disciples. He offers peace and the Holy Spirit. He offers us that same peace as he assures us of the continued presence of God’s Holy Spirit. Let us live in that peace and open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. As we celebrate the birthday of the Church, still fully alive and vibrant after 2000 years – in fact, becoming ever more vibrant, a clear sign of the movement of the Spirit in our midst – let us take stock of the gifts we have been given and thank God for them. Let us also give thanks for the gifts he has given to others. And, if there are gifts we have received but not yet shared, let us allow the Holy Spirit to move us past fear and doubt and use them as God calls us for the building up of his Church.
As we celebrate the birth of the Church, let us remember that it began with disciples going out into the world. Today, we are those disciples with that same call. May we who find peace in the unity of our faith remember that our risen Lord is always with us through his Holy Spirit. May we share his powerful Spirit with all of those around us, in our homes, in our neighborhoods, at work and throughout the world. That is the essence of our true identity; how blessed we are!