Pentecost

My Dear People,

Today is Pentecost Sunday, the official birthday of the Catholic Church. This is a very important feast. This happened on the day that in Jerusalem was a major Jewish pilgrimage feast, recalling God’s giving the Law to Moses. That very day there were many people in Jerusalem. It was a perfect day for the Apostles to begin preaching the message of salvation. As they were celebrating the Law of Moses, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles so that they were commissioned to go out and proclaim the gospel. They were able to speak about the New Covenant. They spoke with  the gift of tongues, which reversed the Towel of Babel scene from Genesis 11:1-9. There, one language was divided into many; on Pentecost, the many languages represented were united into one by the intervention of God.

Pentecost Sunday is extremely important for all Christians. The Holy Spirit gives life to the church and to all Christ’s followers. Jesus had promised the coming of the Spirit during the Last Supper Discourse in John’s Gospel. “I will ask Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.” The Period of Jesus becomes the Period of the Church, the final period in salvation history with the permanent presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has been guiding the church. The Catholic Church has survived and grown because the power of the Holy Spirit has been and is an integral part of the Church. It was the power of the Holy Spirit that enabled the statements of Jesus to be true. When Jesus gave the keys to Peter, and he said to him, “You are Peter, and (that means Rock) on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The Holy Spirit has prevented the evil forces from destroying the church. However, this has not excused us from not doing enough. We are the hands, the feet, the mouth, and the eyes of Christ. We represent the physical presence of Christ on this earth. We have a responsibility to make this a reality. We were empowered by the priesthood of Christ through our baptism. In a sense we became disciples of Christ through our baptism through which we will do our part to continue to further the kingdom of God on the Earth.

Invoking the Holy Spirit and relying on his inspiration and guidance would make a great difference in our lives. Remember, the Spirit is there to guide us. If we do not ask, we do not get. This is the way that we are connected to the importance of Pentecost. As the apostles went out to preach through the power of the Holy Spirit, we, too, must continue to be an example of Christ to others through the power of the same Holy Spirit.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent  Clemente

 

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