As I say on every Pentecost “happy birthday to you all”. Pentecost is the official beginning of the church; the day the church was born. We have heard in the first reading “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”. Why is it called the birthday of the church? Is it just because the apostles received the Holy Spirit? No. We have heard that the spirit enabled them to proclaim. They started to preach and the people of different nationalities heard everything in their native language. “They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.” But Peter stood up and gave them a long exhortation. Then we read “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day (Acts 2:37-41). Thus the church was born the day of Pentecost and added members to the body of Christ. All that happened on the first day of Pentecost, even more, will happen every day in the life of the Church. Only one thing is needed for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit that’s poured on us is spirit, life, and courage. As we pray in sequence, He is the sweet refreshment, the sweetest rest in our labor, grateful coolness in the heat, and solace in the midst of woe. And he is the most blessed Light divine:
“Shine within our hearts, heal our wounds, renew our strength; on our dryness pour your dew; wash the stain of guilt away; bend the stubborn heart and will, melt the frozen, warm the chill; guide the steps that go astray. On the faithful, who adore and confess You ever more, shower your sevenfold gifts and give them virtue's sure reward; give them your salvation, Lord and lead them to the joys that never end.”
Without the Holy Spirit, we have no life in us, with the Holy Spirit we have the life of Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit we become closed in but with the Holy Spirit we reach out in mission to others. Without the Holy Spirit we return to the Upper Room in fear and anxiety but with the Holy Spirit we leave the Upper room and witness to Jesus to the ends of the earth. Let us pray today for ourselves and the entire Church that we may all be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit.