Pentecost

CLICK HERE for the Readings of June 9th, 2019, Pentecost Sunday.

CLICK HERE for the Audio of the Readings of June 9th, 2019, Pentecost Sunday.

Prior to the Ascension into heaven, Jesus ordered the Apostles “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father” (Acts of the Apostles 1: 4-5), then he asked them to stay together to prepare themselves to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The "Promise of the Father" is the Holy Spirit.

The most significant manifestation of the Holy Spirit in Sacred Scripture is recorded at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles.  After the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven, the Apostles and some of the woman disciples were waiting for the Spirit that Jesus had promised. 

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.  Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.  (Acts of the Apostles 2: 2-4)

This event is called Pentecost and is originally a feast on which Israel celebrated the establishment of the covenant with God on Mount Sinai.  Through the Pentecost event in Jerusalem, it became for Christians the feast of the Holy Spirit.  The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost approximately 50 days after Easter. (from the Greek pentecoste meaning “fiftieth”)

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit transformed fearful apostles into courageous witnesses to Christ and to baptize those who believed.  Those who were baptized created communities to share their new faith in Christ with one another.  Pentecost is the birthday of the Church and from this the age of the Church began.
 
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.  They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.  (Acts of the Apostles 2: 41-42)
 
The miracle of the languages (tongues) on Pentecost shows that the Church is there for all peoples from the very beginning.  The Church is universal (“Catholic” is the Latin term from the Greek "katholikos" meaning universal.)  
She speaks to all people, overcomes ethnic and linguistic barriers, and can be understood by all. 
To this day the Holy Spirit is the ”soul” of the Church, the essential principle of her life.  The Church is missionary.  She receives her mandate to go out and make disciples.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended with power upon the Apostles, thus began the mission of the Church in the world.
- Pope Benedict XVI, Homily on Pentecost Sunday 2006 

The mission of the Holy Spirit and the work of the Church are fused together.  The Holy Spirit works through the Church to make the mission of Jesus Christ known.  The Holy Spirit illuminates by revealing Christ is crucified and is Risen, indicating the way to become like him — that is, to be instruments of Christ’s love in the world.  The Holy Spirit is the source of our lives together, brings us together in unity despite our diversity, and enriches us with all the gifts needed to be the Body of Christ.