Pentecost Sunday — 2016/05/15

Finally, some thoughts about the readings for Pentecost Sunday.


The first reading — Acts 2:1-11 — gives us the familiar account of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples at Pentecost. The first chapter indicates that there were about 120 people gathered together in the time between the Ascension and Pentecost, not just the eleven apostles plus Matthias, but also Mary, some other women, relatives of Jesus, and others. The manifestations — loud noise like a strong wind, tongues of fire — recall appearances of God to Moses and later to Elijah at Mount Sinai. Moses and Elijah are the ones who appeared with Jesus at his Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8), which was a foreshadowing of Jesus' post-resurrection glorification. So now, the Holy Spirit takes up the functions of Law (Moses) and prophets (Elijah) within the nascent Christian community. As noted with respect to the Vigil, the presence of Jews from the Diaspora and converts and their ability to understand the speech of the Apostles begins the Spirit's work of restoring unity to humanity, which had been scattered at Babel.


The responsorial psalm — verses from Ps 104 with a refrain from verse 30 — as us praising God for creation and the work of the Holy Spirit in overcoming death, the result of the Fall.


There are alternative second readings.

Romans 8:8-17 emphasizes the effects of having the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. He makes our own spirits alive, enabling us to live holy lives that please God. His presence brings us our own resurrection. He makes us God's adopted children, capable of enduring whatever share in Jesus' sufferings are to be ours. When Paul contrasts "the flesh" with the Spirit, he's not talking about body vs. soul. He means fallen human nature vs. redeemed humanity living holy lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 speaks of what the Holy Spirit accomplishes in us. First and foremost, e enables us to come to fait. Then he enables each person to do the work God calls him to, which differ from person to person.


There are also alternative gospel readings.

John 14:15-16, 23b-26 gives a portion of Jesus' discourse at the Last Supper. He promises that when he departs, he will have the Father send the Holy Spirit to be with the  disciples and teach them and remind them of what Jesus taught them. The Father and Jesus will also dwell with those who keep his word. While the Trinity dwells with all believers, clearly definitive presentation of Jesus' teachings must be uniform so the community (church) must be involved in presenting the teaching. Every believer, however, also must allow himself to be led by the Spirit according to Jesus teachings.

John 20:19-23 is about an appearance of Jesus on the first Easter Sunday. By now, of course, the women have discovered the empty tomb and Peter and Joh have seen it. When Jesus appears to the disciples he commissions them to continue the work for which the Father sent him into the world and he gives them the Holy Spirit to give them authority to forgive sins. Some scholars see this as equivalent to the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost, with the different timing as a matter of detail which is not of overriding importance. It could also be that this, as an appearance to a smaller group than the 120 at Pentecost, is about a conferral of authority which is not granted to every believer.


The Holy Spirit creates the Church and gives believers the ability, and the duty, to live holy lives, contributing to the restoration of unity within the human family through the spread of the gospel.