Pentecost Sunday

Today's Mass Readings

“Receive the Holy Spirit!” They are the most revolutionary words in the history of the world. From the creation of the world, whenever these words have been uttered in the history of the world, it has resulted in dramatic results. At creation, God breathed into the nostrils of the first man and woman and human life emerged. At the annunciation, Mary received the Holy Spirit and the Word became flesh. At the baptism of Jesus, He received the Holy Spirit and sanctified the waters of the Jordan. At the baptism Jesus was revealed to the world as the Son of God. At Pentecost the early Christian Church received Holy Spirit and it changed the history of the world. Before the II Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII opened the windows of St. Peters and prayed for the power of the Holy Spirit to sweep over the Church – and the rest is history. “Receive the Holy Spirit!” These are the most revolutionary words in the history of the world.

But it is not merely from scripture that I know that the Holy Spirit can revolutionize the world. I know this from my own life. I would like to share three areas of my life that are related to today’s scripture where the Holy Spirit changed my life.
a) My Purpose in life. The disciples, in today’s gospel reading, had locked themselves up out of fear. Their life ahead looked bleak. Perhaps, they were like me. Two after years my life in the seminary I went through a crisis in my vocation. Just when priesthood, life, and the future began to look meaningless, I cried for help. I asked for God’s intervention and at a retreat a few months later, there I was at the seminary chapel inviting the Holy Spirit to renew me. Perhaps you will not believe me if I said that overnight my life changed. God became real to me. God’s love came alive to me. I had a new purpose in life. The Holy Spirit guided me through many other crisis and this year I am fifteen years a priest. Now I cannot imagine life otherwise. But more so, I cannot imagine life without the Holy Spirit. “Receive the Holy Spirit!” These are the most revolutionary words in the history of the world.

b) The Gift of Peace. Thrice in today’s gospel reading Jesus says to the disciples,
“Peace be with you.” To a group of frightened disciples, Jesus offers peace. Did I say earlier that God guided me through many crises? Not merely the crisis of vocation, but most of you know how the last year was perhaps the most difficult year for me. Family on the one hand, immigration on the other, difficulties in doctoral work, new parish assignments and demands made life immensely tough. But if the crisis was real, God’s presence and peace was even more real. As I look back on last year, I know that it was the peace that Jesus promised that carried me through. Deep in my heart I always knew that God was with me. Deep in my very guts I felt the strength of the Holy Spirit. The peace that comes from the absolute knowledge of God’s absolute presence is a gift of the Holy Spirit. “Receive the Holy Spirit!” These are the most revolutionary words in the history of the world.

c) The Gift of Love and Reconciliation. One of the passages in scripture that baffles people is the gospel reading that I just read. Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Those whose sins you forgive are forgiven. Those whose sins you retain are retained” (Jn 20:23). I have always used this passage to explain the sacrament of reconciliation. And as a priest I know the power of this e sacrament. But even as powerful as the sacrament is the power that the Holy Spirit gives to forgive one another. I have forgiven people in the confessional. But more challenging is the power the Holy Spirit gives to forgive those who have hurt me personally and then to love them. My opposition to war, capital punishment and violence comes from this very conviction. Revenge, hatred, violence is contrary to the Holy Spirit’s presence in human life – and I know its power personally. “Receive the Holy Spirit!” These are the most revolutionary words in the history of the world.

My dear friends, if the Church, if humanity gives the Holy Spirit a chance like the disciples did on that first Pentecost, it will change the world. As we celebrate Pentecost and as we receive Christ in the Eucharist, let us allow Christ to say these words to us again today: “Receive the Holy Spirit.” May the Holy Spirit transform our lives with Her purpose, peace and reconciliation. Amen.
Fr. Satish Joseph