John 14:8-17, (25-27)
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.
12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
25 ”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
Renewal through Fire and Wind
In the Old Testament, we have already seen God's manifestation through fire, wind and earthquakes preceding His encounters with Moses in Exodus 3:2. We also remember how the prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire and a strong whirlwind in II Kings 2:11. Both events tell us about God's care for humanity and the beginning of a new era in God's plan of salvation.
This Sunday, we have a new manifestation through fire and wind. It is the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Church. It is a day that invites us to reflect more seriously about the meaning of Pentecost in our Christian life and about our mission in light of this great event.
Fifty days after Passover, Pentecost remains one of the three main feasts where the people of Israel are summoned to visit Jerusalem and offer the first fruits of their harvest. They remember with gratitude the revelation of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai and their delivery to the priests and, from them, to the people who pledged to abide by them as a law of life and a pledge of loyalty to the Covenant.
What is Pentecost for me today?
The gift of the Holy Spirit I received at my baptism
The permanent presence of God's Spirit within me, transforming me into a temple for Him
The Spirit who makes me an active member of the sacred body of Christ, and calls us to work and act together as a team when He descended upon the group in Acts 2:1
The Spirit who reminds me of my Christian identity and who seeks not only to make good prevail over evil, but to prefer the best over the better
The Spirit who sends me daily to witness for Christ wherever I am and whatever I do
The Spirit who teaches me that all humans are equal in God's eyes, and enjoy the same dignity and honor in His eyes
The Spirit who helps me overcome my own selfish desires and my wrong plans
The Spirit who teaches me to love others and serve them with righteousness and humility
The Spirit who remains to be the fire that purifies and reshapes my relations with God, and a wind to spread His word, without which life remains empty of happiness and joy
On this day, we renew our vows of Baptism, pray for our local Church, for the Church worldwide, and for all our sisters and brothers to be aware of the gifts they receive and of God's trust in their witness.
Blessed Pentecost!