May 11 – Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1-11
First Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
John 20:19-23
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This year, right now, we are waiting for rain. We have often waited for rain. But this year we really are waiting for rain. When will it come? Will it rain at all? We are waiting.
The Apostles, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and others were waiting for the Holy Spirit to come. They had been told that they would receive power from on high. They were told that the Holy Spirit would come and that they were to be Jesus’ witnesses to the ends of the earth. When would this power from on high come? How would it come? Would it really help? What would change? What would it do to them?
They waited. Then the time came. With the sound of a strong driving wind and tongues as of fire the came to rest on each of them – with that the promised power from on high came. Immediately a miracle happened. To whomever they spoke from the large crowd that had gathered, the people could understand the apostles in their own tongue. A great unity was formed. Language divisions were done away with and all could understand the apostles.
In the creed that we soon will say, we say this about the Holy Spirit: “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
Everyone understanding the apostles is a lot of life. After St. Peter’s sermon that day, about 3,000 repented and were baptized and received the Holy Spirit. Those 3,000 received forgiveness, the new life of grace, they became a dwelling place for God – and all this by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When we were baptized the framework of our life was set down. Most of us were baptized as infants and so our parents and God-parents did two things for us. Those baptized as adults did these two things for themselves. The two things are:
At baptism we were anointed with the life-giving Holy Spirit, who is the Lord and Giver of life.
Thus at baptism the framework for our life is set up. Namely, reject sin and Satan and choose God. This is an ongoing work throughout our life. Jesus received the Holy Spirit when he was baptized. The Spirit led him to the desert to be tested by Satan for 40 days. You and I are also tested. Temptations are allowed. Indeed temptations are necessary in order for us to find out what saying YES to God means. Reject sin and Satan and choose God and obey him. What does this mean in real life? Temptation teaches us what it means. Temptation and grace provide the experiential base for our knowledge of what it means to say No to sin and Satan and Yes to God.
Jesus’ public ministry is best understood as a ministry of getting rid of evil spirits that prevent or contaminate union with God. In Ephesians 1:14 the Holy Spirit is called God’s down payment on our inheritance. The complete payment is heaven. In Romans 8:26 it says that we do not know how to pray as we ought. The Holy Spirit helps us and prays through us to God, carrying us along.
The apostles, Mary and others waited for the Holy Spirit to come. Finally he came. He has worked through the centuries. Today you and I are here because the Holy Spirit has been at work in us. Today we are here because we have said No to sin and Satan and said Yes to God and obeyed him.
The Holy Spirit is the Lord and the Giver of life. For all our life, the Holy Spirit will be helping us reject sin and Satan and choose God and obey God. Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Come Holy Spirit and renew our faith and deepen our love and strengthen our obedience. Amen