+ One day after the celebration of the Ascension of Jesus
into heaven (seven years and 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 FORCE! 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 GREAT 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 fully 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, a Trinitarian 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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