June 12: Pentecost Sunday

Scripture readings:

 

• Acts 2:1-11
• Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34
• 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13
• John 20:19-23

 

 

Theme: 
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost marked a new beginning in salvation history.

In the first creation, God’s Spirit “moved over the face of the waters.” In the new creation, God’s Spirit “filled the entire house” where the disciples were. In the first creation, God breathed into Adam the breath of life “and Adam became a living being” (Gn 2:7).

In the new creation, the Holy Spirit filled the disciples with supernatural life, enabling them to proclaim the Gospel boldly. In the first creation, language was confused because of man’s rebellion against God (Gn 9).

In the new creation, the effects of Babel are reversed. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles spoke with one voice so that people from every nation, no matter what their language, could hear the same message. 

In the second reading, Paul stresses the unity of the Church, which he describes as a single body. Notice the Trinitarian structure: There is “one Spirit … one Lord … one God.” Unity is an essential mark of the Church.

Within this unity, there are a variety of gifts that enriches the entire body of Christ.  In St. John’s Gospel, the Spirit was first given to the apostles on Easter day. In the New Testament, there is no single outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Rather, it is a manifestation of the risen Christ to the Church.

As in the first reading, the gift of the Spirit is connected to mission. In this week’s Gospel, the apostles are commissioned to proclaim the gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation so that communion with God might be restored.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“Jesus’ final apparition ends with the irreversible entry of his humanity into divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and by heaven, where he is seated from that time forward at God’s right hand. Only Christ can open to man such access that we, his members, might have confidence that we too shall go where he, our Head and our Source, has preceded us’” (Nos. 659, 661).

Pope Benedict XVI:
“With these words, faith in Jesus’ return is strengthened, but at the same time it is stressed once more that the disciples are not to gaze into heaven or to know times and seasons, which are concealed in the mystery of God. Their task at this moment is to proclaim to the ends of the earth their witness to Christ” (“Jesus of Nazareth,” Vol. 2).

Life application:
The Ascension of Jesus marks the beginning of a new chapter in salvation history. Through the Church, which is his body, Christ is present to the world in new way. Next week, we’ll hear how the Holy Spirit filled the disciples as wind fills a sail, empowering them to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Christ’s work of salvation has been completed. Death has been conquered, man is free and the new creation has begun. The effect of his redemptive sacrifice must now spread to the whole world.

James Cavanagh is director of Evangelization and Catechesis for Metro-area Parishes of the Denver Archdiocese. Cavanagh’s column is distributed by the Denver Catholic Register.