The Solemnity of Pentecost aims to make us aware of our inheritance from Jesus. Inheritance refers to physical, mental or spiritual characteristics – received as a gift, usually given to the children when the parents die. So, we must understand well what Jesus has left us.
He has come into the world precisely to show us the true face of God – a God of love, mercy and compassion. People had imagined a fearful face of God. But the God that we see in Jesus of Nazareth is a God who loves unconditionally, making no distinction between good and evil; he loves everyone, loves even his enemies.
Jesus offers his disciples the means to become beautiful people like him by receiving his inheritance — his life and Spirit. Today we celebrate the fulfilment of the promise Jesus had made during the last supper. We must recall John’s narration of the scene of Jesus’ death on the cross. On Calvary, when Jesus breathed his last breath, the evangelist would say, “he gave up his Spirit.” The moment when Jesus left this world, he gave to the world his Spirit, his inheritance, with his last breath.
The authors of the scripture are not giving us chronological information. They intend to inform what is happening in the world and in the Christian community when the Spirit comes upon them.
Before it became a Christian feast of the coming of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost was a Jewish feast celebrating God’s gift of the Torah – the first five books of the Old Testament to the people. Israel was very proud to have received this gift from God. It gave them indications on what behaviours are destructive and should be avoided. However, the Torah only showed the signs to follow, but it did not provide the strength to walk and reach the goal.
The Holy Spirit is the new gift of God to those who love him, suggesting at all times how the son or daughter of God behaves. Luke uses specific images to explain what happens in the world and the Christian community when the Spirit comes. Images used by Luke to present the coming of the Holy Spirit are: earthquake or upheaval and tongues of fire. And the event happens in the Upper Room – the House of the community of believers – the Church.
Earthquake represents the irresistible force of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit comes, it turns everything upside down. Jesus did not bring hellfire into this world. The only fire God knows is the fire of his unconditional and totally free love. This fire is God’s DNA, his Spirit, the fire that creates the new world. The image of tongue stands for language. The world was using an old language of threats, insults, and intimidations of those powers to impose their prestige and pressure on those who are weak.
When the Spirit comes, a new language reigns in the world. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him… The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name; he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”
For your reflection:
The Holy Spirit enables us to speak a new language of brotherhood and love, the only language God knows.
Father Josekutty
Mathew CMF
