Reading 1
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
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.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven
staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
"Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God."
Reading 2
Brothers and sisters:
No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Gospel
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
Reflection
On this Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the birthday of the Church. The Holy Spirit constitutes and animates the Church in her mission to continue the work of Jesus Christ until the end of time. In the Upper Room two thousand years ago, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, bringing all the gifts necessary for them to testify to Christ. Our readings today reveal how the Holy Spirit operates not just in the lives of the Apostles and the Church, but also in our own hearts.
By our Baptism and Confirmation, we have received the same Spirit. God dwells in us and offers us gifts to accomplish the mission He has in mind for us. We may not always feel as if this were true, especially when we compare ourselves to others or the extraordinary lives of the saints. In today’s second reading, St. Paul reminds us that “there are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit.” We are all unique parts of the one body of Christ, and even if our lives don’t look like others, God can and will produce good fruit in us when we welcome His grace.
Both the first reading and St. Paul’s letter emphasize that it is the Holy Spirit, not our own strength, that accomplishes God’s work. We have no reason to compare ourselves to others, whether that feeds into our pride or our insecurities, because “there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” Onlookers were amazed at the Apostles after Pentecost when they heard their testimony in various languages. But it is not the Apostles’ linguistic brilliance that the reading demonstrates. Rather, the scene displays the wonder of the Holy Spirit who reached the heart of the listeners.
The Gospel shows that Jesus gives His peace along with the Holy Spirit. Twice, He says “Peace be with you.” When God’s plan for us seems intimidating, or we convince ourselves that we are not the right person for His call, we can remember that God dwells in us, constantly offering His peace. Our task is to learn to trust in and rely on the Holy Spirit, sent to us from above to sustain us and our Church until Jesus comes again.
Join me in praying to the Holy Spirit today. The more time we spend in prayerful communion with the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, the more we will learn to trust in His presence and His promise to give us all we need.
Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
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