Acts 2:1-11; Ps. 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Cor. 12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn. 20:19-23
Pentecost Sunday is about the “mighty acts of God” coming through the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is given to his disciples that they too may go forth doing the mighty acts of God. In the gospel we see the mighty acts of God in the form of speaking in different languages so that “every nation under heaven” can hear and believe. What enters the mind leads to conversion of the heart and confession of the lips to say “Jesus is Lord”. It is through the Holy Spirit that we see the mighty acts of God, the healing of the sick, the exorcism of demons and the authority to forgive sins. These are now his apostles to the world.
The gift of the Holy Spirit is not reserved to the apostles but to all who believe and are baptized. The same Spirit comes to each one of us with gifts for some benefit in the call to serve the mighty one. We were all baptized into the one body, the body of Jesus so that he may remain in us and continue the works of salvation. What mighty works are we called to live out through the gifts of the Spirit?
We may think, I have not done any mighty works of God. I have not healed anyone. Yes, you have, when you care for the sick you give them your love and love is healing. I have not done any exorcism. Yes, you have, when you bless yourself with holy water or bless your children you reject the evil and protect yourself against the evil one. I have not forgiven any sins. Yes, you have when someone offends you or commits a sin against you and you forgive them it brings healing to the relationship.
We could call Pentecost Sunday graduation day for the disciples. Today in many places including here in our church young people are celebrating graduations. It represents their achievement in their educational goals. As a community of faith, we are proud of their accomplishments. For some it is a dramatic step of entering the working world and for others the journey continues for higher education. In the spiritual life as in the world, the more that is given the more that is expected. The expectation is to be the best that you were created to be with the gifts that you have been given.
The world is ready to test our faith, bring temptation, and reject you if your beliefs are not in line with the norm. Just this week a football player gave a commencement speech at a Catholic School and spoke about the virtue of mothers who stay home to care for the family. Immediately he was denounced by the NFL, media, and all types of organizations. When we stand for our faith, we can expect a backlash from the world. Remember the power of the Holy Spirit is also ready to protect us against the evil one but we must pray to it, listen to it, and remain in it.
The disciples are now called to go from being students and interns to the title of “Apostle”. They had the teachings of Jesus but so many unknowns of what was ahead. They had a mission but more questions than answers. The answers were to come through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit. They not only walked by faith but with authority and power. As soon as Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit, he immediately included the authority “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained”.
This authority goes beyond the sacrament of confession. It comes with the authority to establish the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic church and to govern the people through the magisterium of the Church. Many other Christian denominations try to deny that Jesus meant what he said and that only God can forgive sins. Let us recall that Jesus claimed the Father was in him and he was in the Father. In the same way Jesus is in the priest and the priest is in Jesus when he acts “in persona Christi” in the person of Christ. In the same way we are all called to live in Christ and to receive Christ in the Holy Spirit.
No other church claims this authority because it was not given to any of these churches who have come later in history. Instead, they deny that Jesus meant what he said. Obedience to the magisterium of the church is obedience to God and this is not just confession but the whole sacramental life of the church. Why the magisterium of the Church? Because the church always speaks as one body and we his servants, bishops, priests, deacons, and religious should always be his instruments in doing the will of God.
Recall that when we are born, we are given the gift of ourselves and what we do with ourselves is our gift back to God. What mighty deeds is God ready to fulfill simply because we remained faithful and obedient to God. Our graduation in the faith came with what sacrament? Confirmation was our graduation day in the faith. Today we are called to stand for what we believe and fear not God is with us.
Recent Comments