Gospel Commentary: God Breathed

By Fr. John Riley
HERALD Columnist
(From the Issue of 5/31/01)

Why did Jesus Christ return to the Father? Why not stay with us visibly as Messiah, King of the world, and lord it over mankind from an earthly throne?

Last week, the Church celebrated Ascension Thursday — the end of Jesus’ formal public ministry, and the beginning of the "final age" in the history of the world — the age of the Holy Spirit and the Church. On the Mount of Olives, like foundlings abandoned, the Apostles gazed helplessly into the heavens after Jesus had ascended. A radiant angel sends them packing with a promise that Christ will return. They head back to the Holy City confused and uncertain.

What did the gathered Church ponder during the nine days of that first "novena" as they waited to receive "power from on high?" Perhaps they recalled Jesus’ "breathing" the Holy Spirit into them on Easter Sunday night as we see in this week’s Gospel. Maybe Christ’s enigmatic words at the Last Supper echoed in their thoughts, "It is better for you that I go … for unless I go, I cannot send to you the Holy Spirit."

He came. On the 50th day after Jewish Passover ("Pentecost") with the rushing sound of a mighty wind reminiscent of creation when "the Spirit of God swept over the face of the deep" (Gn 1:2), the Spirit was poured out upon the Apostles and those gathered with them. Things began to change.

Under the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, a weak and unreliable fisherman became the Rock, the head of the Church. Cowardly and confused Apostles became beacons of light sent out to the four corners of the earth. Bullies, prostitutes and libertines became suffering servants, saints and doctors of the Church. Gifts were bestowed, men and women were missioned and the Mystical Body of Christ extended across the face of the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Jesus Christ does not rule from an earthly throne located in Jerusalem or Rome, but in glory at the right hand of the Father. He reigns too — though mysteriously, wherever the Holy Eucharist is consecrated, received, worshipped and "tabernacled." He is also present to the world in and through us, His members, by His Holy Spirit.

This same Spirit lives and moves and loves within and through us. The Church is the Body of Christ; the Holy Spirit is the "Soul" of this Body. Just as our souls "animate" our bodies — serving as the principle of life and harmony and unity, so too does the Holy Spirit bring life and unity to the Catholic Church.

If we are open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves caught up in bringing Jesus Christ to others. Gifts and abilities are activated, strengthened and orchestrated by the Holy Spirit in the task of bringing the Gospel to all the world. St. Paul describes this marvelous work in his first letter to the Corinthians, "There are many gifts, but the same Spirit; there are many ministries, but the same Lord; there are different works, but the same God who accomplishes them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one the Spirit gives wisdom in discourse, to another the power to express knowledge. Through the Spirit one receives faith; by the same prophecy is given to one; to another power to distinguish one spirit from another. One receives the gift of tongues, another that of interpreting the tongues. But it is one and the same Spirit who produces all these gifts, distributing them to each as He wills."[1 Cor 12:4-11]

In this day and age, a lot of people seem to spend a great deal of time worrying and complaining like spoiled children about the inadequacy of the gifts that have been entrusted to them. They covet vocations that others have received, and spend precious little effort working on serving in the roles the Spirit has allocated to them. Discernment of the Holy Spirit’s will is an essential element of the Catholic vocation — and this comes only with prayer, humility and obedience to legitimate authority.

As we seek to participate in the great endeavor of bringing Jesus to all the world, the Holy Spirit will guide us as members of the Body to "the complete Truth" that sets us free — if only we remain open to His prompting. Amen.

Fr. Riley is administrator at St. Louis Parish in Alexandria.

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