Homily
for June 4, 2017)
Today is Pentecost Day. On
this day, the church celebrates the divine outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the
Church. The feast of Pentecost, however did not begin with the descent of the
Holy Spirit. Pentecost (a word which means fifty) was already an established
annual feast celebrated by the Jews fifty days after the feast of Passover. As
we read in Leviticus 23:16-17, Moses instructs the Israelites saying:
“Count fifty days to the day
after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall present a cereal offering of new
grain to the Lord. You shall bring from your dwellings two loaves of bread to be
waved, made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour; they shall be baked with
leaven, for first fruits to the Lord.”
Today is Pentecost not just
because of the Holy Spirit but because it is the fiftieth day; a day we are to
present our cereal offerings and first fruits to God. It was in the course of
this feast which normally attracted a large number of visitors from all over
the world to the city of Jerusalem that the Holy Spirit came upon the
disciples.
Indeed, it was no small
coincidence that the Holy Spirit chose this date. We may say the Holy Spirit
took advantage of this day to announce or rather release the church to the
whole world, because, before this time, it was locked up in the upper room like
a baby held firmly in its mother’s womb. This is why we say today is the
birthday of the Catholic Church.
In fact, just as a baby
cries when it is released from its mother’s womb, there was a loud “sound from
heaven like the rush of a mighty wind… and they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in tongues.” The Apostles re-echoed this loud cry by
speaking in tongues to the hearing of all who were gathered in Jerusalem
thereby almost immediately fulfilling the mandate of Christ in Matt 28:19-20
“Go and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Please note that their
speaking in tongues was clearly understood by the people who had come from all
over the world to attend the feast of Pentecost. Acts 2:6-12 states: “When they
heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard
them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not
all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears
them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of
Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and
converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the wonders of
God in our own tongues!”
The Holy Spirit gave them
utterance because this was the immediate need of the church at that time. And
so, the fact that you are not speaking in tongues right now does not mean that
you lack the Holy Spirit. Indeed St. Paul makes us understand in the second
reading that “No one can even say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1st
Corinthians 12:3.
Do not let anyone intimidate
you or make you feel inferior because you are not speaking in tongues. If
speaking in tongues is necessary, the Holy Spirit will give it to you and I
want to believe it is only necessary when there is a foreigner in our midst who
does not understand English language and needs to hear the word of God in his
or her own native language. In the absence of such, let us refrain from
pretence (talking blah blah blah blah) in the name of speaking in tongues.
Indeed, there are so many
other gifts of the Holy Spirit that we do not even pay attention to. In Gal
5:22-23, we read “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These are the
kind of gifts we need yet, we have trained ourselves to believe that speaking
in tongues is ultimate!
As St. Paul says: “To each
is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1st Corinthians
12:7. For me, one gift we need in the country right now is the gift of telling
the truth (honesty to end corruption). Enough of all these self-deception;
speaking in tongues when there is no one who can understand us.
Finally, my dear friends,
coming to our Gospel passage we see Jesus saying “Peace be with you” three
times to his disciples before proceeding to say “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Knowing that the number three is very significant, I am sure that with this
action, Jesus was passing a message – peace comes first; peace is important;
peace is essential for the Holy Spirit to come; to have peace is to have a room
where the Holy Spirit can dwell.
Indeed, when we are restless
and troubled, it is a sign that we are not giving room for the Holy Spirit. I
pray for you today that you may have peace of mind; that you may be so filled
with peace that the Holy Spirit will come into you. Peace be with you. Peace be
with you. Peace be with you.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus,
fill me with your Holy Spirit that my life may manifest the gifts and fruits of
the Spirit. Amen.
*Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live
Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Pentecost Sunday. Year A. Bible Study: Acts 2:1-11. 1st
Corinthians 12:3-7.12-13 and John 20:12-13).*
Fr. Abu.
No comments:
Post a Comment