Word to the Wise
Sunday, May 19, 2013 - Pentecost Sunday - C
[Acts 2:1-11; opt: Rom 8:8-17; opt: John 14:15-16, 23b-26]"The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."
The traditional artistic depiction of the event of Pentecost shows the disciples gathered around Mary with tongues of fire coming from a snow white dove hovering overhead which in turn hover over the heads of those who were present! I put it that way because the text simply says, "they were all gathered in one place," without saying how many! Earlier the "brethren" were numbered at about 120 when Matthias was chosen! This seems important to me because the Holy Spirit comes to more than the Twelve! The Church is born in all those present and is not simply co-extensive with the "apostolic succession" (as important as that is).
The "birth of the church," therefore, took place [past tense] in the promised event of Pentecost historically, but it also occurs [present tense] continually in the hearts of all who believe and are baptized. St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that the "New Law of Christ" is "nothing other than the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of those who believe in Christ." (I-II, q. 106). The second option in the gospel scripture for today, quoted above, describes my own experience of the Holy Spirit as a preacher! The Spirit is the "teacher" and "reminder of all that I told you." Every morning, when I sit down at the keyboard to send this homily I must rely on the Holy Spirit to help me find words to send. (Don't blame the Holy Spirit if my grammar is bad, however!)
Today I pray that all of us in the church, from Pope Francis to the most newly baptized baby, can appreciate the great gift of God's presence as the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of all who believe! May that Holy Spirit inspire us all to proclaim the gospel each and every day. AMEN