RBWords

     There are times in the liturgical year when the sequence of events gets a bit confused in the lectionary.  The passage from the Acts of the Apostles in the first scripture for today is "post-Pentecost," and the celebration of that feast is several weeks ahead of us!  The passage from the Gospel of John, today's gospel scripture, is "pre-Easter," at least in the story, anyhow, and Easter is behind us in the liturgical calendar.  Needless to say, both passages were written originally well after the events and persons they describe!

 

     The common bond is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the community after the death and resurrection of Jesus.  The Acts of the Apostles [2:1-13] place that event some days after Jesus has "ascended" to the Father.  The Gospel of John [20:21-23] places it in a post-resurrection appearance.  [One wonders if Thomas, who was not there, had to do a "make-up" session!]  What the stories have in common is the very real experience of the community that Christ had not abandoned them but had indeed kept his promise that he would give them the Holy Spirit as a form of new life that would enable them to speak "God's words." 

 

     That Holy Spirit becomes part of our lives at Baptism!  This is why we should not think of Baptism as something that happened in the past but is a present power in our lives.  We are "witnesses of these things," just as the early Christian community was.  AMEN