Today the Church celebrates Pentecost. Here are some thoughts I had as I was reflecting on Acts 2.
On that day of Pentecost, which would come to be celebrated as the birthday of the Church, God sent his Holy Spirit onto the Apostles and Mary after Judas’ successor was selected. A noise like a strong driving wind from the sky filled the house. Tongues of fire parted and rested on each of them. People from every nation heard the Apostles speaking in their own native languages causing many to wonder what it all meant or even if they had too much new wine.
The first apostles were given a mission from God’s Holy Spirit. Peter, the first Pope proclaimed that these men aren’t drunk as you suppose, it being only nine o’clock in the morning. He reminded them of what was spoken through the profit Joel. “It will come to pass in the last days, God says, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. Upon my servants and my handmainds I will pour out a portion of my spirit and they shall prophesy. I will work wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below: blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord, and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.”
Peter went on to remind the crowds of the words of the prophet David about the coming of Jesus. He came with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs. God raised this Jesus, releasing him from the throes of death. Exalted at the right hand of God, Jesus received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth.
People asked Peter and the apostles what they should do. Peter said to them simply, “repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.
This gift was not only promised to the first three thousand who were baptised that day, but to all of us. The first Christians devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles and to prayer and to gather to break bread (aka Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) and praising God. For this, the Lord added to their number those who are being saved.
Our faith, still very much alive today, has been passed down from Peter and the first apostles to all of us today in the Church. During the holy sacrifice, Jesus is made present to us as he promised to be always with us until the end of time. The gift of faith and communion with the Church is here for all of us to either reject or receive in the sacraments.
Happy Birthday to the Church and praise be to God for this gift we have in his Church.