The great solemnity of Pentecost marks the accomplishment of the Paschal mystery of the Lord Jesus, thanks to the sublime gift of the Holy Spirit. This singular manifestation of the Paraclete took place on the 50th day after the unexplainable event of Jesus’ resurrection.
Pentecost is the realisation of Jesus’ promise to his disciples that he made to them on the eve of his passion, death and resurrection. “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you… (John 16, 7).
For Jesus, the unique role of the Spirit is that of “convincing the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment, … [as well as] guiding the disciples into all the truth. He will glorify [Jesus], for he will take what is [his] and declare it to [the disciples]” (John 16, 8. 13-14).
The Holy Spirit is the inseparable companion of Christ’s disciples. As the article of Faith, which was defined in the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 381 and which we profess during the Sunday Eucharist to this day, the Holy Spirit is “the Lord, the giver of Life”.
Furthermore, we likewise profess that the Holy Spirit “has spoken through the Prophets”, that is, to all those who speak in God’s name.
The Holy Spirit’s descent on the Church is a telling reminder that salvation is universal. Nobody is excluded. Everyone is embraced by God’s salvific manifestation. One thing is needed however: genuine acceptance of God’s generous gift! The text from the Acts of the Apostles explains it all: “And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2, 6-11).
Blessed John Paul II dwelt on this point when he said: “The descent of the Holy Spirit occurred after the ascension into heaven. …this clearly indicates the universality of redemption both in the extensive sense of salvation for all humanity and in the intensive sense of the totality of graces offered to the redeemed. This universal redemption, however, must be accomplished by means of the Holy Spirit”.
St Basil the Great demonstrates how the Holy Spirit guides those who allow themselves to be led by his refreshing enthusiasm: “The relationship of familiarity of the Spirit with the soul, …consists, …in the exclusion of the passions, which, as a consequence of their attraction for the flesh, enslave the soul and separate it from union with God. Purified from the filth of which it was riddled through sin and returned to its natural beauty, as if restoring to a royal image its old form through purification, only in this way is it possible to draw near to the Paraclete. In the blessed contemplation of the image, you will see the unspeakable beauty of the archetype.
“Through him hearts are raised, the weak are taken by the hand, those who are progressing reach perfection. He, illuminating those who have been purified from every stain, renders them spiritual through communion with him. And as limpid and transparent bodies, when a ray strikes them, become splendid themselves and reflect another ray, thus souls bearers of the Spirit are illumined by the Spirit; they themselves become fully spiritual and return grace to others. From here stems their foreknowledge of future things; understanding of mysteries; perception of hidden things; the distribution of charisms, heavenly citizenship; dance with the angels; endless joy; permanence in God, likeness to God; fulfilment of desires: becoming God.”
Holy Spirit you are my inseparable companion. Amen.
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap