This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. As we know, the term Pentecost refers to the 50th day after Easter. On that day, following the Ascension of Jesus in glory to his Father, the gift of the Holy Spirit was sent upon the disciples of Jesus praying together.

In the midst of the sound of the wind and the appearance of the tongues of fire described in the Acts of the Apostles, faith was confirmed, hearts were strengthened and a deeper conviction about the love and friendship with Jesus was born. That’s why many say that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church.
From that moment onward the Church, and we her members, began to carry out the Lord’s command that we heard read in the Gospel at Mass last Sunday. “Go and make disciples of all nations. Teach them to carry out all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19).

For us today, the gift of the Holy Spirit can be something of a paradox. We are taught to love Jesus from our earliest days.

And, of course, Jesus told us about the love of the Father.

Somehow the image of Jesus and God the Father are easily formed in the mind. Because they can be pictured or imagined, we are tempted to think that we can seek to love them and to follow Jesus to the Father by our efforts, by our own strength.

Why then do we need to receive this Holy Spirit who is so hard to picture or to understand?

However, the early Church understood well Jesus’ teaching that he and the Father would send the Holy Spirit upon the Church and upon us. It is precisely the Holy Spirit who makes us to be the Church and who gives Jesus’ followers the strength and the guidance to carry out the mission in the world he entrusted to us.

It is the gift of the Holy Spirit that guides the Church and our Catholic faith to hold and teach the truth in every age, even when the truth is not popular.

In short, it is not by our own efforts or strength that we remain faithful to Jesus. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit giving us that strength.

An accurate understanding of the way in which the Holy Spirit works within the Church and within each of us is truly humbling.

We are told that Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit in the conception of Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon him.

St. Paul tells us that the Father, through the Holy Spirit, raised Jesus from the dead, thus showing the unity of the Holy Trinity.

And Jesus told his followers that he would send us the Spirit to teach and remind us of all that Jesus said.

These examples show us that it is the Holy Spirit who strengthens us and guides us.

When we feel an impulse to pray, perhaps to ask for guidance just to praise God, it is the Holy Spirit moving our hearts. When conscience moves us to do the right thing even at great cost, or to grieve over and repent of our sins, again it is the Spirit of God acting upon us.

One of the great challenges for believers is the difficulty of living faith and following of Jesus. Even more, living moral values or speaking the truth that does not conform to our modern and politically correct standards is portrayed by the world as being backward, or living a faith needing to be updated.

But again and again the Holy Spirit has guided the Church and our faith to stay true to Christ. This is why the Church has a constant faith and a consistent message, century after century, even as it responds to new and modern questions.

This Pentecost Sunday, take a moment to thank the Holy Spirit for his presence in your heart and his guidance in your life. If you have been confirmed already, think back on the day of your confirmation and give thanks to God.

Each of us is called to live the particular life and challenges that God gives to us. But underlying all of our efforts is God’s own Spirit, the Holy Spirit, guiding and moving us to be faithful.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love!