Gospel Commentary: Pentecost

By Fr. Jack Peterson
Herald Columnist
(From the issue of 5/27/04)

It is impossible to overestimate the significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and in the life of each Christian. Jesus made this truth of our faith very clear when He boldly proclaimed to his Apostles: "But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." (Jn. 16:7) God had to have a most precious Gift to bestow upon his followers in order for Jesus to be able to say, "It is better for you that I go."

First of all, Christianity is all about the love of God. His love is manifest throughout creation. His love sustains us at every moment of our lives. His love redeems us from our sins. His love restores our broken relationship with our heavenly Father. His love makes possible an intimate union with Him for all eternity in heaven. Love is the greatest commandment. It is our highest calling as human beings.

The Holy Spirit is the love that exists between the Father and the Son. Together they have poured out that Spirit upon us, to dwell in our hearts. Jesus says in today’s Gospel, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him." (Jn. 14:23b) I am not sure we spend enough time pondering the beauty of this reality: God chooses to make a tabernacle of our souls. St. Paul in his letter to the Romans, puts it simply, "God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Rom 5:5) There is no Christianity without the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, the Holy Spirit enables us to see the Truth, that is, to believe in Jesus Christ.

The promised Advocate is absolutely necessary for the Christian virtue of faith. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul states, "No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit." We also know that it is the Spirit dwelling in us that makes it possible to cry out "Abba, Father!" The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, given first at Pentecost and today at Baptism and Confirmation, makes faith in Christ possible.

Thirdly, the Spirit brings courage. Anyone who reads the Acts of the Apostles has to be struck by the radical change that occurs in Jesus’ followers, especially the Apostles. They go from being scared to death and full of doubts about Christ and his way of life to being courageous witnesses of the Resurrection. Almost in an instant, they begin to live fervently, love deeply, preach boldly, suffer joyfully, and die courageously. What a difference Pentecost made!

Finally, the Spirit gives gifts for the spread of the Kingdom. "To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit." (1 Cor. 12:7) Am I responding properly to God’s generous love by using the gifts given to me for the good of his Church? Am I fully aware of my gifts? Am I generously using them in his service? Do I realize that I have a unique and important role in the Church’s mission to proclaim Christ to every corner of the earth? "It is better for you that I go."

Fr. Peterson is campus minister at Marymount University in Arlington and interim director of the Youth Apostles Institute.

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