PENTECOST SUNDAY,YR A
Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104
1Cor. 12:3-7,12-13; Jn 20:19-23
THE THREE GIFTS OF PENTECOST
With the readings we have today, the first reading from Acts 2:1-11 recounts the events of the celebrations today. We must read the above text in the context of Act 1:4-8, where he asked them to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the power of the Holy Spirit that will make them his witnesses in the world.
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on them lavishly and in power. The descent of the Holy Spirit bears some semblance to the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses. The Lord came down among the people in thunder and lightning with a deafening sound of trumpets (Exodus 19:16). Almost in the same way God the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples with supernatural manifestations and gifts. Three gifts were given to the Church that day.
The first is the Breath of God. This first gift is a gift that appeals to the ear. We read that “and suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and it filled the house where they were staying” (Acts 2:2). This wind is the same breath of God that moved over the Earth at creation. He is the same breath of God that made Adam become a living being (Genesis 2:7). The thing about wind is that nobody can see it but no one can doubt its existence and force. When it moves strongly like it did in the Acts of Apostles, it shakes, breaks, uproots and moves. On that day, it broke something in the disciples. It uprooted something and it moved them out. It broke their fear, it uprooted their feeling of helplessness. The Holy Spirit does same for us. He lives in us to break and uproot everything that hinders our growth as children of God. Let us pray on this occasion and say, “Holy Spirit make us whole again and fill us with the confidence of children of God.”
The breath is also a sign of life. With the gift of breath that day, the church is given new life. Each member of the Christian community has new life by belonging to the church which is the new Israel. Unlike the Israelites who were warned not to come close else they die, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We have become his children by this Breath of God living within us. this is what Paul means when he says “…you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15). We are alive because we have the Breath of God within us.
The second gift is the gift that appealed to the eye. They saw tongues that look like fire parting on each member of the community. What does this mean? It was a visible manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit on each one of them. This gift of fire is the presence of God himself. Fire represents a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit. This is the experience of those who have an intimate relationship with God. This is what makes a man leave everything to follow the Lord. The fire of the Holy Spirit upon our lives never gives up until the gospel has been preached. It is a yearning to make God’s mighty works known to the whole world. Today, the Holy Spirit is seeking all of us to be ablaze for the Lord. Are you ready?
The gift of language is the third gift. Language offers the opportunity for interaction and expression. Interaction brings people together. The gifts of language on the day of Pentecost brought all the people, who were at Jerusalem for the feast, together around the disciples such that even though they were from different nations each of them could hear the disciples in their own native language. (Acts 2:6). It was about fifteen different nationalities were mentioned but they all gathered to see and hear the disciples. This gift should help us work at oneness and unity in the church of all God’s people. We are all called to work towards the gathering of God’s children and not to become agents of separation, division and confusion. Any Christian whose action brings division and not unity does not have the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Language is also for expression. They were not only able to speak other languages but were given what to say. This is to fulfil what Jesus promised that “…for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12). The gift of language helps us to express the good news in such a way that it touches and converts people. What is refreshing about this is that, “they spoke as the Spirit gave them ability”. This can be said to be the gift of the mind since words and concepts are formed in the mind. Whatever words and concepts we need to propagate the gospel, the Holy Spirit living within us will give us the inspiration.
We pray that as we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit, he may fill us and equip us to be true witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Lord.
God bless you.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
