Times and Pentecost: The Continuous Intervention and Presence of the Holy Spirit in the World
Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23
Why do we talk of 1900 or 2017 or 1960? Obviously time is the measure of human activities, and astronomical and galaxic movements help human beings to talk about times and seasons. This is not the case for a Christian. What is “time” for a Christian? “Time” is always in reference to Christ and the salvation he wrought for humanity. When a Christian talks of centuries and millennia, it is always in reference to the Christ event. Even within Scripture itself, time is always in reference to the Christ event. For instance, “When the fullness of time (τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου) had come, God sent his Son . . .” Gal 4:4. This statement of Paul underscores God’s continuous intervention within geographical and physical time. The “fullness of time” (τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου) of which Paul speaks, is not chronological time, but kairotic time; “time” as punctuated by God’s intervention and action. The sending of God’s Son changed the course of history and the meaning of time.
Today, our first reading begins with the statement – “And on the day Pentecost reached its fullness” – Καὶ ἐν τῷ συμπληροῦσθαι τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς πεντηκοστῆς ἦσαν Acts 2:1. This has to be read in conjunction with the “day of the Lord” in the Old Testament. God promised, through the prophets, what he now fulfills on Pentecost day. The “day of the Lord” is the day the Lord himself has decreed and decided, a day in which he had decided to manifest his great work. The “fullness day of Pentecost” is one such days. Instead of the celebration of the Commandments of God among the Jews, as was the custom, it became a special or kairotic day for Christians, a day in which God fulfilled his promise to send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit did descend upon the apostles as promised. But what is the meaning of the reality that took place on that faithful Pentecost day?
If Pentecost was celebrated as the giving of the commandments on mount Sinai, among the Jews, for Christians, Pentecost is the giving of a new commandment – our identity as sons and daughters of God. The Holy Spirit of Pentecost descended on each one of them, male and female, on that day. This simply means that there is no gender demarcation or differentiation among those upon whom the Spirit of God dwells. It is on the basis of this identity – everyone who possesses this Holy Spirit – that Christian identity as children of God is based. What more, there was a unity in the languages of humanity – the apostles spoke one language but everyone else understood them in his own native language. God understands and accepts all languages as languages in which he will be invoked and he will listen and answer. Furthermore, there were people of different races and ethnicities who listened to Peter’s speech on Pentecost day; this also means that racial and national affiliations are reconciled in Jesus Christ. A community of oneness, and of love was founded on Pentecost Day – this community is the Church of Jesus Christ, the Church of God.
Today is another Pentecost day. If the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles on the very first Pentecost in history, he is ready to descend upon you and me today. You may ask: what happened to the Holy Spirit we received at baptism and Confirmation, if we still need the Holy Spirit today? Well, our answer comes from the responsorial Psalm – “Send forth your Spirit O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.” Today, and at every Pentecost, the Church requests the Holy Spirit of God to renew the face of the earth through the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the job of the Holy Spirit is to renew the whole of creation at every coming. Hence our theme: “Times and Pentecost: The Continuous Intervention and Presence of the Holy Spirit in the World.” Indeed, our world today still needs the intervention of God, through the Holy Spirit.
You know what, fear did not allow the apostles to go about preaching the gospel. It was in this context of fear, according to our gospel, that Jesus came over to his disciples and said to them – “peace be with you,” and he added, “receive the Holy Spirit.” Today in Nigeria, the fear of Book-Haram, the fear of cattle herdsmen, the fear of Sharia, and the fear of Islam, have cowed down Christians from standing up for their faith. In fact, the greatest fear of our day is “poverty,” economic poverty. You and I have sold our consciences because we want promotion at our job sites, because we want money to travel the world, because we need to win elections, because we need all the goodies of life. Therefore, ritual murder is on the increase, false prophets arise daily and satanic churches are being built; honesty and moral rectitude have been sacrificed on the altar of sin. Where are the Christians today? Where are the virgin sons and daughters of God, who have kept themselves immaculate like the Virgin Mary? Sexual infidelity and broken promises stare us all in the face. Hardly anyone says “no” to bribery and corruption – we give and receive bribes; no one says “no” to premarital sex, marital infidelity, priestly dis-virginity, the enthronement of injustice.
Friends, this is the situation in which we celebrate Pentecost this year. No one needs convincing that we need Jesus to say to us too today – “peace be with you,” and “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Peace be with you,” is a statement that admits that our lives are broken by sin and fear. We need the “peace – Shalom” of God. “Shalom” means “wholeness,” not just the absence of war and strife. With the words “Peace be with you” to his fearful disciples, Jesus restored their “wholeness” back to them – he restored their courage, happiness, love, friendship, etc. When Jesus added, “receive the Holy Spirit,” he signified to the disciple that courage, happiness, fidelity, love, friendship, etc. are impossible without the presence of the Holy Spirit. In fact, it is through the Holy Spirit that forgiveness is possible – “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
If our gospel today talks about the “disciples” of Jesus Christ, it means that Jesus is thinking about you and me, as he gives his peace and the Holy Spirit. It means he was not thinking just about the Apostles, but everyone who believes in him. If you believe in him, then you need to forgive sins committed against you – the infidelity of your spouse, the gossips, lies, and calumnies against you; you need to forgive yourself for your betrayal of your faith, for the bribes you took, for loosing your virginity irresponsibly, for leading others into sin through your bad pieces of advice, and through your bad example.
Of particular importance, as regards the role of the Holy Spirit, are the statements of Psalm 104:29-30 (our responsorial Psalm today): “If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.” In other words, there is no life without the Holy Spirit, and there is no renewal without the Holy Spirit. To be alive is to possess the Holy Spirit; and, any defects that need renewal and correction are done and achievable through the Holy Spirit. What this means is that at every Pentecost, we are offered a singular opportunity to change our defects, our sinful ways, and ask the Holy Spirit to recreate us anew. Yes, each time we pray – “Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love, send forth your Spirit and we shall be recreated and you will renew the fact of the earth,” we testify to the power of the Holy Spirit to renew us, and we accept that the “fire” of the Holy Spirit, like the tongues of fire which descended upon the apostles and others on Pentecost day, can, here and now, burn up our evil ways and passions, and fill us with “love” which enables us to accomplish the works of God.
According to our second reading, every gift given to us comes from the Holy Spirit. The gifts we have are for the building of the Body of Christ the Church, and not for leading one another astray. The Holy Spirit builds up, he does not tear down. Wherever the Holy Spirit is present, there is joy, peace, love, justice, etc. The Holy Spirit makes us instruments and channels of all that is good and holy. Through the Holy Spirit, every beautiful woman is considered a sister and not sex object; the Holy Spirit makes us cherish our bodies as the temples of the Holy Spirit and not instruments and agents of sin. The Holy Spirit helps us to work for the good of others and takes away our selfish ambitions. The Holy Spirit leads us to sacrifice all for God and our neighbors.
Today, remember your identity as a Christian and do not sin. On this day, remember the power of the Holy Spirit given to you and pick up courage when your faith is tried. As we celebrate Pentecost, see yourself as that agent of change which our world badly needs today. Above all, remember Jesus’ injunction – “be of good cheer, I have conquered the world!”
Happy Pentecost!