THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

First Reading: Acts  2:1-11
Second Reading: 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13

Gospel: Jn 20:19-23

Dear brethren, we are on the Sunday of Pentecost. It is a great day for the church as it is from this day that the church started its mission of proclaiming the good news of Jesus to the whole world. The coming of the Spirit upon the Apostles who were gathered together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus is a decisive moment in the history of salvation. In the first reading we hear that the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak in tongues so that people belonging to different linguistic groups could hear the Word of God in their mother tongue. Here the power of the Spirit unites the people, the different tongues are no more a barrier, rather they serve as means to unify people. It is outdoing of what had happened at the tower of babel in the Old Testament; the people who tried to reach God through their pride could not do so as they experienced the division of language. On the contrary, in the New Testament, the God who came down to us in humility could help us to use His Holy Spirit to unite people beyond various language, tribe and culture. Yes, it is humility of Jesus that has made the Father to dispense the Holy Spirit for us.

In the responsorial psalm we sing that the sending forth of God’s Spirit gives life to creation. When God revokes that Spirit all creation turns to nothing (Ps 104:29-30). Yes dear friends, it is very clear from the beginning that all creatures are made from the very life of God. Human being is much more than any other creature on earth as he is made through the very breath of God (Gen 2:7). This breath of God is none other than the Holy Spirit. Now with the Pentecost, God has renewed that Spirit in humans which is destroyed and dismayed by the fall of first parents. In psalm 51 King David prays that the Lord may not take away Holy Spirit from Him, that God may renew steadfast spirit in him (Ps 51:10). David says this prayer after his fall with Bathsheba. He becomes fearful that his spirit has become withered. He fears that he can no more stand firm. This is the cause of sin. Whenever we sin, we become weak and untamed. To live in the continuous presence of the Lord, God is very much important to be firm in our faith and fight the worldly battle with resoluteness.

Today our baptismal and confirmation ceremonies have become mere rituals. No doubt as the sacrament is administered, the grace is effected. But how many of us really feel, experience, become aware of the Holy Spirit coming down and resting upon the persons who are receiving those sacraments? Remember, as humans our daily breath itself a sharing in the breath of God. The indwelling of God’s Spirit is a renewal of ordinary human spirit to be steadfast. Upon receiving the Holy Spirit we become recreated. This is what happens in receiving the sacraments and this is also what had happened in Jerusalem on Pentecost day. The lack of willingness to share and show kindness in the world is due to the lack of Holy Spirit in us. The coming down of Holy Spirit not only fills us with various gifts but also unites us as one. So much of divisions in the family, society and in the church are lack of indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each of us. Letting the Spirit to animate us will set us on fire just as St. Catherine of Siena had said. The fiery speech of saints in the church and courageous service done by Church men through the ages are nothing but a working of the Spirit.

Today in this 21st Century we need the Holy Spirit to combat the constant distractive culture. Let us not waste our spirit in pursing passing glory. Let us plunge ourselves into the Holy Spirit so that He may take us wherever He sees best for us. If we march by ourselves we may collapse, resembling the event of tower of babel in our lives. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to take us forward so that we may set the world on fire.  


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