Gospel Reflection for 9th June Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost: The world is charged with the splendour of God

Today, as we mark the great arrival of the Holy Spirit, the season of Easter reaches its climax and conclusion. Today we celebrate and experience the powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the whole Church and upon all of us who call ourselves disciples and followers of the Risen Lord.

Last Sunday Jesus promised his friends that he would send them the Holy Spirit to encourage them, fill them with strength and to take away their fear. Their and our waiting is over; the promise of Jesus has been fulfilled. This very day, each of us are filled, blessed and anointed with God’s very life; the Holy Spirit. This not just some historical event that happened two thousand years ago. It is happening today, right here, right now. Today, each of us are the ones, the disciples of Jesus who are filled with the power, energy and life of the Holy Spirit.

The first friends and followers weren’t strong, courageous or even very faithful. They betrayed Jesus, they denied and deserted him when he needed them the most. After the resurrection, most, if not all them, doubted that he had even risen at all! They all lost heart and hope! Then, a most unusual thing happened to and for them. The house shakes; they hear wind and see flames and fire around them! These frail, frightened and fragile men and woman are completely changed. Through the Holy Spirit, they are given new heart, new hope and new purpose. They are renewed, restored and refreshed; they become new people. They are given  new courage and conviction. They leave their hiding place and they go out and boldly proclaim the Good News that Jesus is Risen. They are new people with a new mission and message. The missionary church is born.

In reality, we today are no different than these men and women. Through our Baptism and Confirmation, each of us has been anointed and filled with the exact same Spirit. Just as they became witnesses to the Resurrection, we too are called to be missionary disciple today in our time and our own way.

There is nothing gentle, calm or mild about God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit is powerful, life-giving energetic and very disturbing! St. Oscar Romero who was murdered in 1978 while celebrating mass said;

‘The Spirit makes all things new; we are the ones who grow old and want to keep everything to our aged way of doing things… the Spirit is never old, the Spirit is always young.’

Today, as we celebrate Pentecost and the birth of the missionary church, may we be encouraged and challenged by the words of Pope Francis; ‘Go out again and again, without hesitation or fear and proclaim this joy, this Good News which is for all people.’ May the Holy Spirit continue to encourage and challenge each of us to be missionary disciples today, whenever and wherever we can.

– Br Michael Moore OMI