Pentectost 2022
In a sense, the celebration of Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. Jesus has prepared his apostles to go into the world to spread the word of God to the ends of the whole world until the end of time. As the first disciples were sent into the world to do the works of God, we too, are sent out to carry out the will of God by our word and example. And we do this by following God’s commandments and examples of Christ in our lives.
One day a mom told her son to clean his room and the little boy said yes, he would do it but did not obey. His mother disciplined him and told him to confess his error to God and ask Jesus to help him to clean his room. So, the little boy did that and sat in his room still unclean. His mother asked him why he still did not clean his room and the little boy replied, “I prayed to Jesus to help me clean my room and I am will waiting!” Do we hear and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit to change our way of living? Or even though we hear the promptings, perhaps we ignore them and continue to wait for God to come and clean up the mess in our live for us?
We Christians celebrate Pentecost without realizing that Pentecost was also a feast of our Jewish ancestors in the faith. For them, Pentecost indicates a feast which comes 50 days after the Passover. The Jews commemorate the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, the 50th day after exodus from Egypt. Their feast was their own beginning as a clearly defined people with a covenant with God, so also our feast is seen as the beginning of the Church.
For the past 3,000 years, the people of God were called to follow the ten commandments. Those who don’t, to live of life without God and his laws will only lead to misery as can be seen in the Old Testament and New Testament, in the eyes of the prophets and writers of the day. Even when we try to follow God’s commands and fail, Jesus gives us help through the ministry of reconciliation, which is the power to forgive sins. In the context of the feast of Pentecost, the gospel reminds us about the integral connection between the gift of peace, forgiveness and the action of the Holy Spirit. The reconciling presence of Christ is celebrated in the church’s sacramental life, especially in the sacrament of penance. Until next time, see you in church! Fr. Larry 😊