Pentecost

​Living the Resurrection # 5

Today we are celebrating Pentecost, a feast that is integral to the Resurrection for those of us on earth. I have often wondered and jokingly said that I am going to write the Pope and suggest that we call Ordinary Time, the Time of Pentecost. In reality, that is what ordinary time is, time after Pentecost. Time in which we can access the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Who continues to energize and sustain the Church! So, in talking about living the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit completes our capacity to live it.

We only need to observe the powerful effects produced by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Pentecost to appreciate the significance of the Spirit’s presence among us: How thousands came to the knowledge and saving influence of Jesus’ death and resurrection! How the Apostles were transformed by the Pentecost event and courageously and fearlessly preached the name of Jesus. It only seems natural that as we come to the conclusion of the Easter Season the dynamic of the Holy Spirit’s effect on us personally and on the Church generally is something we need to integrate into the consciousness of our faith life. The Holy Spirit gave birth to the Church! Pushed us out of the nest to enable us to become transformers to the world in which we live. The question is how well are we flying under the Spirit’s presence?

Like the consciousness of living the Resurrection, unless we intentionalize what we believe we lose the ability to enter into the reality of its meaning. We give more of our consciousness to the immediate, multiple, and material demands that absorb our attentions. In spite of that, we do live in a unique existence that allows us to experience Jesus through His Words recorded by the Church, to receive the physical presence of His body and blood, and now on Pentecost have the ability to be aware of His Spirit nurturing, nudging, and inviting us to a greater intimacy with him. The great accomplishments throughout the Church’s History came through those who lived the Resurrection and maximized its potential! They continue to inspire us and model the Person of Jesus for us by their love for God and their selfless service to others. The Transforming Spirit of Pentecost is responsible for all those good and healing activities to humanity.
We only need ask ourselves how we have allowed the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts. Often, we don’t trust the impulses, thoughts, and graces given to us by the Holy Spirit and like a little child want to wrestle out of the grasp of the Holy Spirit’s loving embrace!