Pentecost Sunday
Today is the birthday of the church, the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is formed by the grace of the Holy Spirit and is witness to the story of salvation. So, for those of us Baptized, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit proclaims through us the great mystery of the forgiveness of sin and the reconciliation of the people of God to God Himself.
The Apostles and the disciples were confused after Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. His resurrection was witnessed by many of His followers and though they celebrated His victory over death, they were still confused. Therefore, they remained in hiding awaiting the day when all would be revealed to them through the Paraclete or God the Holy Spirit.
We are told that the Spirit of God came upon them in the outward form of tongues of fire. Renewed in spirit and truth, the apostles and disciples went forth from the upper room to proclaim Christ crucified and risen from the dead and He is the source of all life. On that Pentecost Sunday, the upper room, where the Apostles and disciples huddled in fear of the Jews, was forever empty as they went forth to proclaim the good news and to make disciples of all nations.
In the early pontificate of St. John Paul II, he called a new Pentecost and new outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a renewal of the face of the earth. We saw movements within the Church, like the Charismatic Renewal, Cursillo, Marriage Encounter and Divine Mercy, reveal the presence of God in their lives as they renewed in love their families and their world. A new fervor was going through the Church and many who had turned away were now returning to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior.
As abruptly as it started, the movements began to falter and fade around the year 2000. It was almost as though God had withheld His grace. However, I believe we are in the dark night of the soul, as St. John of the Cross describes so elegantly in his writings. We are in a time when those called responded and they were and still are being renewed in spirit and truth. However, their faith is no longer a child’s faith but a mature faith that does not need the consolations of God because the God of all consolation is enough.
We are still called to abandon the upper room, come into the light and proclaim forever together the goodness of God for loving us first. A powerful thing is happening in our day. The sheep who hear the shepherd’s call are being separated from the flock and are being formed into an army to proclaim to the world that Jesus Christ is Lord. Remain faithful full of hope and the promise of eternal glory as God fashions a new heaven and a new earth in which we are all brothers and sisters and children of the one true God.
Happy Birthday
Deacon Phil