Pentecost closes the Easter Season.  The Paschal Candle be taken from the sanctuary to the baptismal font after the last Mass (or after Evening Vespers).  Ordinary Time, the numbered weeks, begins on Monday. 

First reading:  Acts 2:1-11

Pentecost was the Greek name for the Jewish feast of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks.  It was a harvest feast, the first of the year, that traditionally became connected with the reception of the Law on Mount Sinai.  It was one of the three pilgrimage festivals for the Jews (with Passover and Tabernacles), when they were to make the journey to Jerusalem to observe the feast. 

The coming of the Holy Spirit reflected the story of creation. “A mighty wind/spirit swept over the waters” at the beginning of creation. The breath/spirit of God entered a lump of clay to bring life into mankind.  The Spirit overshadowed Mary, when she conceived. Now, the Spirit will enter into the disciples, whose preaching will bring forth new members and disciples in the Church. 

Interestingly, the focus is not on the message. It is on the presence of the Holy Spirit Himself. The content of the message is not given.  But the fact that they all heard and understood it becomes the result of what happened to the disciples, when they were “enabled” to speak by the Holy Spirit. The “strong driving wind” filled their “house,” their dwelling place, and led them to connect more universally, while still remaining connected to their identity as Galileans. 

While sin caused a dispersal of people at the Tower of Babel (Gn 11:1-9), this event reverses the effect.  It allows people to hear the same message in many languages.  The Spirit causes unity where there was diversity. 

One of the exciting experiences of teaching at the seminary now is that there are people from so many different backgrounds!  Each culture receives the Gospel through the filter of there experiences of life and history. 

Once, I saw two seminarians from China use a Bible in their native language.  I asked how they translated “Word” at the beginning of the Gospel of John.  They said that it was used in Confucian philosophy as the ground of all being.  It was the starting point for discussing anything.  Their comment and insight enriched our discussion and deepened our understanding about what was on our printed page. 

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7,12-13

Paul emphasizes the diversity of life — different gifts, service and workings. But there is also a commonality that is shared and is the source of that rich diversity. It is the Holy Spirit and our profession of faith.  The Spirit is not just for the good of the one, who receives Him. The results and impact of that Spirit in every person are “given for some benefit” to others.  It causes us to interconnect and interweave our lives. 

Paul uses the image of the body.  Every part of the body has a purpose and function.  But there is only one life within it.  Paul calls this shared life “one Spirit.”  This allows everyone to have the same dignity, which has been bestowed upon them by God, although each has a different function. 

Gospel: John 20:19-23

The evangelist echoes the image of the first reading by using the image of breath as a sign of new life, which is infused into the disciples of Jesus.  The Gospel prefers the term “disciples” to “the apostles” or “the Twelve.”  It extends the significance of the event to later generations in the Church. 

“Evening” (darkness) and “fear” are associated together.  Jesus is the “light of the world” (Jn 8:12).  Light signifies knowledge and courage.  By greeting the disciples twice with “peace,” Jesus not only uses a familiar Jewish greeting, shalom.  He calms their fears.  Rather than accuse them for their weakness — and their absence! — during the Passion Narrative, He points them toward their mission and empowers them, just as it was foretold by John the Baptist at the beginning of the public life of Jesus in Jn 1:33: “It is He, who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit.”  The mission and presence of Jesus continue in His followers.  That mission includes the forgiveness of sins.  That mission continues in the lives of all those who receive the Gospel of Jesus.  It is Good News for all! 

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Fr. Richard C. Macey is pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven.