Reflection on Pentecost Sunday
May 31, 2020
The Promise
Rex Lago Paras
Ministry of Lectors and Commentators
Today, Pentecost Sunday, we conclude our celebration of the Easter Season. This year, our Parish and many other parishes celebrated the entire Season of Easter under community quarantine. One of the quarantine measures set in place was the suspension of the public celebration of the Holy Eucharist and of other religious gatherings. Hence, we welcomed Easter and observed the rest of the season quietly in our homes watching masses on television or online.
Pentecost Sunday commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit, which we also know as the Third Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary. Pentecost, as experienced by the apostles, is recounted in today’s First Reading (Acts 2:1-11). “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.” (Acts 2:1-4)
The coming of the Spirit fulfills Jesus’ parting words to his disciples. Before his Ascension, Jesus tells the disciples, “And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Lk 24:49) Fast forward to the day of Pentecost and finally, the apostles receive what was promised. “[T]hey were all filled with the Holy Spirit [which] enabled them to proclaim…the mighty acts of God.” (Acts 2:4, 11)
The story of Pentecost is another illustration of the Lord’s fidelity to his people. The disciples only recently regained Jesus, the risen Christ, after his unjust condemnation to death. At a time when they were still coming to terms with the lessons drawn from the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord, he leaves them behind and ascends to the Father. However, Jesus leaves not to abandon them. The disciples need only to recall his earlier assurance, “…I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always[.]” (Jn 14:16) And, the promised and awaited Advocate does come.
Unlike us who forget to keep our promises, God is always true to his word. He keeps his promises to us even if we walk astray. Through the ages, we have seen how disloyal God’s chosen people could be: (1) the transgression of Adam and Eve, (2) the ungratefulness of the Israelites freed from slavery, (3) the inconstancy of the apostles who left Jesus alone on the way to Calvary, (4) our refusal to love and care for our neighbors in need despite professing that we love God, (5) our reluctance to forgive those who have hurt us despite asking that we be forgiven by God. There are many other instances of our unfaithfulness, but our God is “the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant down to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments[.]” (Dt 7:9)
These days, more than ever, let us remind ourselves of God’s steadfast love for all of us. We are in the midst of so much suffering and grief that it is easy to think that God has forsaken us. That is farthest from the truth! Saint Paul teaches, “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor 10:13)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus breathes on the disciples and says to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn 20:22). Again, it was this Holy Spirit that prompted the disciples to speak in different tongues and enabled them to proclaim the Good News. Let us pray for the same empowering gift which has been promised not only to the disciples but to us, too. “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.”
