Pentecost Sunday

When my students don’t know where to start a discussion or a piece of writing, I suggest that it can be helpful to ask the basic questions: Who? What? When? Where? How? and Why?  Faced with the awesome mystery of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost, that seems a good way to begin to ponder and pray today.

Where is the Holy Spirit?  Today we celebrate that the Holy Spirit is at work in the Church, the community of believers.  When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the apostles, and the preaching and praising of God began, the Church was born and immediately began to grow.  The Holy Spirit was like a powerful wind, blowing life into people.  The Spirit was also like a fire bringing brilliant light and comforting warmth into the hearts of the believers.  They knew Jesus had been raised from the dead, but now they were given even more. The Spirit is still at work in the Church and within each one of us as well, especially through the sacraments. The Holy Spirit was poured into our hearts at baptism.  At confirmation, we were sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Whenever we are absolved in confession, it is the work of the Holy Spirit, who was sent among us for the forgiveness of sins. When the sick are anointed, the Spirit brings strength and healing. For generations, Christians have prayed, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.  Enkindle in them the fire of your love.”  And the Holy Spirit always comes to our aid.

What is the Holy Spirit?  We profess each Sunday that the Holy Spirit is the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. We know from Jesus’ words at the Last Supper that the Holy Spirit is our Advocate who will defend us and speak for us. The Spirit is the Paraclete, our Helper and Guide. The Spirit reminds us of all that Jesus said and taught.  Through the power of the Spirit, we continue to do the work of Jesus, building up God’s Kingdom.  

Who is the Holy Spirit is perhaps the most comforting question to ask.  The Holy Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son. God the Father created us out of love; Jesus redeemed us and saved us out of love; and the Holy Spirit has been given to us to sanctify us, to make us holy.  The Spirit is the source of the union that God desires to have with each of us as individuals and with all of us as the Body of Christ, the Church in the world today. In seeking to make us holy, the Spirit wants to unite us, to bring us together as those at Pentecost were united by hearing the gospel, each in their own language.  At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed that we might be one in Him and in the Father and that we be united with each other.  That is the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Finally, not only does the Spirit unite us, but the Spirit brings us God’s forgiveness and mercy, and empowers us to become a community and persons of mercy and forgiveness as well. 

Words only go so far when we attempt to know God, perhaps especially the Holy Spirit.  Instead, we have to let the questions go and pray with the psalmist, “Be still and know that I am God.”  It is then the Spirit will speak to our hearts.