Homily for the Week of May 19, 2013

Pentecost C 2013 Acts 2:1-11 Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Rom 8:8-17 Jn 20:19-23 or Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26 Think for a moment about the wind. Wind can be a gentle breeze, bringing comfort on a hot summer day, Or it can be a mighty gale, topping trees and even buildings as on Texas this past week. Over time a steady wind reshapes shorelines and rock formations. Though it is unseen, the wind is constantly changing the world we live in. . Breathing and wind are very often mentioned in the Bible as signs of God's presence. Those who suffer from breathing difficulties recount how terrifying it is not to be able to catch their breath. Breath or wind is the very symbol of life and has been since ancient times. We just read a section of the Acts of the Apostles, one of the books of the Bible. The disciples had experienced the death of Jesus and wondered what they would do now that he is gone. So fifty days after Easter the Apostles and some others, all close friends of Jesus, had gathered together in Jerusalem in a small locked room, wondering what they were going to do now that Jesus had left them. They had huddled together trying to comfort one another so that they could muster enough energy to carry on the mission of Jesus. But Jesus did not want to leave his friends alone, so he arranges to send them the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to them through a strong driving wind. There were many more outside the house coming from all parts of the Middle East because this was also a special Jewish holy day. We are told that there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. The noise that is described can be compared to the noise we hear in the house when there is a strong wind blowing outside. We don't feel the wind. We only know how strong it is by its sound. In a sense that is the way that the Bible often described God. God’s voice was described as sounding like the wind. When that happened they were also able to understand each other in various languages.. Our Catholic religion has three major holy days: Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. But most Catholics pay far less attention to Pentecost than to Christmas and Easter. Pentecost is also important because today is the birthday of the Catholic Church. It was at Pentecost that the Holy Spirit gave the followers of Jesus the courage to preach the Catholic faith to others. It was also the first time that Baptism was provided for all those who became followers of Jesus. At that first Pentecost 3000 were baptized The idea of a holy spirit was not new to the Jewish people. Thousand of years before Jesus the Jewish people believed in a spirit of God that came to certain individuals and calling them to a special type of work in God’s name. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist the Holy Spirit came to Jesus. Then on Pentecost, the special feast we celebrate this weekend,the Apostles received the Holy Spirit. Once they received the Holy Spirit the Apostles and followers of Jesus were not afraid to go out everywhere and talk about Jesus. They knew, of course, that this would get the Jewish authorities angry. Receiving the Holy Spirit was a necessary part of being a follower of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is also among us right here and now. Although unseen, the Holy Spirit moves in our lives and in the world. Like a gentle breeze, the Holy Spirit comforts us in times of hardship and loss. Like a mighty wind, it empowers us to bravely confront evil. The Holy Spirit is the primary gift we receive in Confirmation, so we can grow even stronger in our calling to be followers of Jesus Christ. God has given us the exact gifts we need to do his will. Unfortunately, so often it can happen that religion and spirituality are placed on the back burners of the daily life of our businesses, educators, politicians, newspersons, workers and families. Because of this spiritual vacuum, love and caring and sharing are missing in our society. However, we need not feel depressed or worried as long as we believe that the Holy Spirit is always there to fill that spiritual vacuum with love and caring and sharing. Catholics also believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity which we mention when we make the sign of the cross. But how do we know when the Holy Spirit is at work in you? The Holy Spirit was working in us when we said or thought of something unexpected that benefited ourself and others; at times when we had been away from God or Jesus and felt a need to return; at times when we stood firm for what was right and good. We imitate the Holy Spirit when we arrange delightful surprises for someone like making an unexpected visit or phone call to a grandparent. All of us have the breath of God within us. Sometimes we forget, yet God’s love — God’s Spirit, God’s Breath — restores life again and again. Hopefully we live our lives with a desire to keep this Spirit within us. Hopefully, we always trust the Holy Spirit to teach us how to be God’s children.