+ One day after the celebration of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven (ten days ago), the space shuttle Atlantis was launched for the last time. We have all seen space shuttle launches. There is GREAT FANFARE! GREAT LIGHT! GREAT SOUND! GREAT POWER!!! While this may not be a good analogy to what happened on the day of the Ascension: Jesus actually simply went up into the clouds, with a gesture of blessing as he made his way. But this is exactly what it was like on the day of Pentecost! The Spirit came down like the experience of a space shuttle going up – and the house where the Apostles were SHOOK! There was BRIGHT LIGHT! THERE WAS GREAT SOUND! There was POWER! And there was the de-scending, rather than a-scending of tongues of flame and fire that landed on the heads of the Apostles and filled them to overflowing with the JOYOUS, PEACEFUL, POWERFUL PRESENCE OF GOD – deep down in their souls - like they had never experienced him before. Everything immediately became different – the very newness of life of God began to surge inside of them like never before – and they knew who God was, they knew who Jesus really was for the first time, they knew who they were, they knew how they were now related to one another in a new and sacred relationship, they knew how eager they were to bring the message of all of this to all others – no matter what the cost might be! It was a magnificent day!
The first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles tells the narration of what exactly happened: when it was time for Pentecost, the apostles were together in one place, 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. They began to proclaim the glory of God and his will for the salvation of the entire human race to the residents of all the various nations who were gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish Feast of Pentecost – and each person heard the same message in their own language. This is the gift of tongues – and a foretelling that the gospel would be spread to every land – as Jesus had commanded.
In addition to the impetus behind evangelization, the Spirit gives different gifts for the benefit of the whole body of the newly formed community of believers – each new member is given at least one gift to use to keep this new Body of Christ alive and well: to keep the shuttle flying to use the alternative analogy! It is up to each member to more fully discover his or her gift (or gifts) and put it (or them) at the disposal of the whole community.
As I mentioned two weeks ago, Jesus promised "two parting gifts" when he would finish his work on earth and ascend to the Father's right hand – PEACE and THE HOLY SPIRIT ….today those combined gifts are delivered – in great force, with great power - for the purpose of renewing the face of the earth. But as I said at that time, this peace, given by the presence of the Holy Spirit, is the result of the experience of heartfelt giving and receiving of forgiveness. The beginning of the sending of the Apostles occurred on the night of Easter when Jesus actually introduced forgiveness to them, after abandoning him (all except John) at his Crucifixion, by appearing in their midst and greeting them saying (twice) "Peace be with you!"Then he breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit, if you forgive sins they are forgiven, if you judge in a case that they ought not to be forgiven, then they will not be forgiven." This means that SUPERNATURAL FORGIVENESS IS REALLY POSSIBLE and must be the key to a full reception of the Spirit and his gift of Peace and all the other gifts besides! And so, may we forgive those we need to forgive in our lives, and ask forgiveness of those we ought to ask it of as well – so that the rush of the Spirit may fill us to overflowing with God's joy, God's peace and God's strength for the purification and perfection of the Church on earth, and the spiritual transformation of the world into the glorious Kingdom of God, with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Brother, ruling as King, forever!
Come, Holy Spirit, Come!
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give us virtue's sure reward;
Give us your salvation, Lord;
Give us joys that never end.
Amen.
Alleluia.
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