PENTECOST (B)

Sunday 19 May 2024
Jn 15:26-27, 16:12-15

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you”.
(John 15:26-27, 16:12-15)

The Feast of Pentecost remains a little over-shadowed when compared to Christmas or Easter, because we don’t fully understand the great event of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

After the resurrection, the close-knit community of Jesus were once again closed in the upper room out of fear for the Jews. Taking Jesus’ place, one might want to say: how is it possible that you’ve closed yourself in again full of fear? How many times did I predict these things, and you (especially you, Peter) pretended not to hear? In fact, you changed the subject…!

Jesus’ attitude, though, doesn’t follow this approach and He almost seems to validate the fear of His loved ones: “And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so, stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

Well, Pentecost reminds us precisely of this strength that comes from above: strength to bear witness, strength to love. The Holy Spirit descends and makes His dwelling-place in us, makes us love the people who we couldn’t bring ourselves to love and, more than anything, the Holy Spirit enables us to forgive. He is the law of love, which is written on our heart and drives us to act according to the criteria of charitable love and mercy. The Spirit, the Paraclete, remains with the disciples, teaching them and arouses the testimony of Jesus within them. For this reason, Pentecost can be called ‘the Nativity of the Church’!

Fr. Giuseppe