Pentecost

         “Peace be with you.” In today's short Gospel passage of four verses Jesus says those four words twice. Not only are these words repeated, but the Gospel passage itself is also a “repeat.” We heard this particular Scripture on a weekend just a few weeks ago. And so, there must be an important message here.

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At the Vigil Mass:

Entrance: Rom 5:5; cf. 8:11 – “The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us, alleluia.”

First Reading: Gen 11:1-9 – “It was called Babel because there the Lord confused the speech of all the world.”

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33(32):10-11, 12-13, 14-15 – “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own.”

Second Reading: Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b – “The Lord came down upon Mount Sinai before all the people.”

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19(18):8, 9, 10, 11 – “Lord, You have the words of everlasting life.”

Third Reading: Ez 37:1-14 – “Dry bones of Israel, I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life.”

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 107(106):2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 – “Give thanks to the Lord; His love is everlasting”

Fourth Reading: Jl 3:1-5 – “I will pour out My spirit upon the servants and handmaids.”

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-28, 29, 30 – “Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”

Epistle: Rom 8:22-27 – “The Spirit intercedes with inexpressible groanings.”

Alleluia: “Alleluia, alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Alleluia, alleluia.”

Gospel: Jn 7:37-39 – “Rivers of living water will flow”

Communion: Jn 7:37 – “On the last day of the festival, Jesus stood and cried out: ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink,’ alleluia.”

Pentecost Sunday:

Entrance: Rom 5:5; cf. 8:11 – “The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us, alleluia.”

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11 – “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak.”

Psalm: Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 – “Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”

Second Reading: 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 – “In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”

Sequence: “Veni, Sancte Spiritus … Come, Holy Spirit, come!”         

Alleluia: “Alleluia, alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Alleluia, alleluia.”

Gospel: Jn 20:19-23 – “As the Father sent Me, so I send you; Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Communion: Acts 2:4, 11 – “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke of the marvels of God, alleluia.”

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         The more we reflect on those words the more it becomes clear. “Peace be with you” isn’t just a nice greeting. It’s not a statement of fact. It’s not an observation of a current situation. It’s an invitation. It’s a choice. Because of our God-given free will, “Peace be with you” … it’s our choice ... it’s our decision ... it's your choice ... it's your decision ... whether we choose to receive it or we choose to reject it … It’s our decision ... it's your decision ... to utilize it … It’s our decision ... it's your decision ... to live it … And it always has been. We can choose to embrace or we can choose to throw away.

         The Gospel reminds us that on Easter night, Jesus’ Apostles had been filled with fear. The room was locked for fear of the Jewish leaders who had conspired with the Romans to kill Jesus, and the Apostles feared the Jewish leaders and the Romans were after them next. 

         Yet despite the sadness and sorrow which was still looming in their heads and hearts from Good Friday, despite their present real, legitimate fears, they choose to be there. Jesus enters into that locked room. He enters into that fear and then He offers them His peace, which is tied to His gift of the Holy Spirit.

         Yet this doesn’t make them immune from their fears returning, even after the Holy Spirit comes upon them at Pentecost. What it does do is it does give them the ability to face and live with their fears, and to overcome them when necessary. We heard in the First Reading that the Apostles were transformed by this gift. And in the immediate aftermath, a newfound courage is unleashed. They speak in new languages and the Church begins to grow. But after that event, spreading the Gospel would become a choice they would have to make daily.

         They would be confronted with difficult missions, hostile crowds, and angry leaders – and ultimately almost all of them would face death for being Apostles of Jesus Christ. Yet they kept choosing peace, they kept choosing the Holy Spirit, and kept looking to Him to provide strength, to give them the words they would need, and to be their Consoler in the moments of darkness when it seemed there was no one left in the world to support them.

         We have received this same Holy Spirit. We already have this precious gift of God within us. We received it at Baptism and we reaffirmed it at Confirmation. It’s not a distant spiritual reality. It’s not some confusing theological concept in which we need extensive instruction. Jesus, remains with us in His Word (Sacred Scripture) … Jesus remains with us in His Body and Blood, the True Presence in the Eucharist (the Altar and the Tabernacle) … Jesus remains with us when we gather together in Church (the Congregation assembled) ... Jesus continues to pour out His gift of the Holy Spirit upon us. He has promised that He will never leave us. He has promised that He will continue to do tremendous deeds through each and every one of us who make up the Church. But because of our free will, it’s still a matter of a choice. It’s a decision on our part. We must want the Holy Spirit. We must want His peace. Have we chosen Him today? Will we choose Him tomorrow?