First Reading: Acts 2:1-11
Second Reading: 1Cor 12;3-7, 12-13
Gospel: 20:19-23
"Receive the Holy Spirit"
As the transitional day between
the Lenten/Easter Season and the season of Ordinary Time, Pentecost Sunday is a
significant and well-known feast in the history and liturgical calendar of the
Church. According to scholars, because it represents the true start of the Church's missionary endeavor, it signifies the founding of the church. Lord,
Holy Spirit, and all believers who have received the Holy Spirit are the main
participants in today's celebration. Christ sent us out to bring peace, unity,
joy, forgiveness, love, and eternal life after he filled and equipped his
church with the power of his Spirit. The use of speaking in tongues and making
claims in the name of the Holy Spirit, however, has led many Christians
misinterpreting or abusing the gifts of the Holy Spirit poured on the events of
Pentecost. A really attractive young man who was a fellow prayer warrior was
once single and sought by a young lady at a particular "Charismatic
gathering" at our parish. She began prophesying in unusual languages and
translating it into songs to be heard by the young man and the entire crowd
because she was unable to approach him to ask for his hand in marriage due to
the possibility that it would be considered against custom, she said things
like: “Shimaa karabakala raaaa katura” (the Holy Spirit says you shall marry
me). The young man initially felt ashamed, but he soon realized the joke and
deception. He then instantly entered his own trance and flew into a frenzy,
giving a contrary prophecy in his own made-up language and song, like this: “Yesuu
yaala yalala marakata” (the Holy Spirit says I should not marry you). Immediately,
chaos descended upon the crowd. It quickly became clear that they both had lied
about the Holy Spirit. What a sin and a mockery!
The first reading of this Sunday tells the story of how Christ fulfilled his promise to his disciples who faithfully heeded the injunction, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the advocate comes" (Acts 1, 5). Today's celebration is of a promise fulfilled and the reward of faithful obedience and steadfastness in prayer. Like the early disciples, true believers have been empowered by the Holy Spirit and must appreciate the various gifts made available to them. One of the greatest aspects of this feast is the gift of tongue. The most important details are that one must be careful when exercising or claiming to have received the gift of speaking in tongues, as this can lead to sinning against the Holy Spirit. Jesus warned that any sin against the Son will be forgiven, but against the Holy Spirit will not. It is important to understand Paul's teachings on the issue of gifts and speaking in tongues, as it is a gratuitous gift from God and does not come through learning and practicing. The most important details are that one must be careful when exercising or claiming to have received the gift of speaking in tongues, as this can lead to sinning against the Holy Spirit. Jesus warned that any sin against the Son will be forgiven, but against the Holy Spirit will not. It is important to understand Paul's teachings on the issue of gifts and speaking in tongues, as it is a gratuitous gift from God and does not come through learning and practicing. Today, it is quite easy and alarming to hear people using parlance like: “the spirit says”, “the spirit moved me”, “the spirit ministered to me”, “I heard the spirit speak to me”, and so on. Anyone who prays or speaks false tongues is both blaspheming against God and committing sacrilege – a sin against the Holy Spirit. The gift was given to the apostles to help them spread the good news to different people from all nations. It was not given to boost their ego or break away and found their own Churches, but rather to pass on the message of eternal life to others.
Paul says something very significant in today's second reading: "No one
can proclaim 'Jesus is Lord' unless they are under the power of the Holy
Spirit." This implies that, as Christ also tells us: "No one comes to
me unless the Father draws him," it is God himself who gives us the
ability to realize the lordship of Christ through the gifts we received today
(John 6: 44). Because he lacked the Holy Spirit, Satan the tempter found it
incredibly challenging to acknowledge Christ's lordship. Paul is referring to
making Jesus the Lord of one's life when he says to "speak". He is
referring to living it and making him the real lord of our lives. True children
of God are those who are being directed by the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit that
we receive today will inspire us to declare the lordship of Christ. Paul states
that we are God's children, as the spirit bears witness with our spirit (Rom 8:
15-16). The gospel of today shows the cooperation of the Trinitarian God in
action, each doing and completing His action. Jesus says, "As the Father
sent me so I am sending you, receive the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit has
come to help us achieve what he helped Christ achieve, such as forgiveness of
sins. Jesus commissioned his disciples as ministers of the Sacrament of
Penance, and today the Spirit empowers them to move out with wisdom and
gentility to testify to the lordship of Christ. Today we have a new Pentecost,
and let us beckon on the Lord to send forth his spirit and renew the face of
the earth.
IV Year Theology
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