May 23,2021

Pentecost 2021

A Four-fold Pentecost Revelation

Msgr Thomas Gervasio

Pentecost — meaning fiftieth in Greek, is a feast of Jewish origin. It was a festival of the harvest or “first-fruits” that was celebrated fifty days after Passover and it was also a feast that commemorated the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai fifty days after the Exodus.

The Church retained this feast, seeing it however as the fulfilment of the Paschal Mystery when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles fifty days after the Lord’s Resurrection to begin the work of the Church. This is why Pentecost is often called the “Birthday of the Church.”

The Acts of the Apostles recounts for us the extraordinary event when the Holy Spirit who came in wind and fire, transformed the fearful and timid disciples into courageous and zealous witnesses of Christ. They were no longer closed in on themselves but realized they had to go out, they had a mission to accomplish. They were even granted the gift of speaking in tongues so that they could be understood by people of various nations.

The presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the Church was, however, not so wild, and totally out of control, as this scene might suggest. Rather, in our second reading, we find St Paul describing—or perhaps prescribing—a significant degree of order and stability: every disciple having his or her own gift, ministry, way of working: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good”. The community, pervaded by the Holy Spirit, already displays a certain shape, common aims, and shared responsibilities.

The Church is an organized, hierarchical community; so, a disciple comes to understand that it’s not just about his or her personal relationship with Christ; or what one decides to believe, to accept or reject. The Holy Spirit works within this organized community to ensure its unity, its “oneness.” Unity is the first mark or identifying feature of the true Church established by the Lord. Unity was the fervent desire and prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper. Divisions in the Church are a scandal, and this is why the Church dedicates itself to the ongoing work of ecumenism with our separated brothers and sisters but also strives to preserve its internal unity.

We know how important unity is. In these days many point out how our nation is so divided and how we must come together. It is no less true of our Church. Striving to preserve unity is a constant duty.

Pentecost also celebrates that the Holy Spirit sanctifies the Church, that is, makes it holy, the second mark of the Church. The entire business, the reason, for the Church’s existence is to bring us to heaven; to make us saints. It is the call of every baptized person. The main path to sanctity is the Sacrifice of the Mass, prayer, and the sacraments. We are also sustained by the example and intercession of the saints. The call to holiness of life must be answered by every baptized person.

Pentecost also celebrates the catholicity of the Church. The word “Catholic” means universal, which means the mission of the Church is intended for the whole world. The Catholic Church is not nationalistic, but respects and indeed embraces people of every nation and culture. We are not exclusive but inclusive. There is no room in a Catholic’s life for discrimination.

Finally, Pentecost celebrates a fourth mark of the Church—its apostolicity. This means that Church which claims to be Christ’s, traces its origin to the apostles upon whom Christ founded the Church. The term “apostle” is a Greek word meaning “one who is sent.” The nature of the Church is missionary. It must go out to proclaim the Gospel and baptize.

One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic are the trademarks of the Church that Pentecost places in relief for us on this Feast of the Holy Spirit. We might even call them the four bright lights on the “birthday cake” of today’s feast.

May the Holy Spirit who was manifest at Pentecost make his home within each of us. May we turn to the Spirit in times of joy and struggle and at times when important decisions have to be made. Come Holy Spirit, help me work for unity, help me strive for holiness, help me to embrace people of all races and cultures, help me to be apostolic, bringing the light of the Gospel to all I meet.

Mass of Confirmation on Pentecost

Gifts that Strengthen

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

Pentecost — a Greek word, meaning fiftieth—is a feast of Jewish origin. It was a harvest festival that was celebrated fifty days after Passover as well as a feast that commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai fifty days after the Exodus.

It was on this Jewish festival, fifty days after the Lord’s Resurrection, that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles in wind and fire. Our Lord had promised to send the Advocate, the Comforter who transformed the fearful apostles into courageous witnesses of the Gospel. The mission of the Church began. This is why Pentecost is often called the “Birthday of the Church.”

How appropriate that on this feast of the Holy Spirit we celebrate the Confirmation of Junior, Dante, and Joseph. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation, who inspired the prophets, who overshadowed Our Blessed Mother, who was present at the Baptism of the Lord, who inspired the Gospel writers, and who guides the Church throughout time and space, comes to them today.

Confirmation is not a kind of “Catholic graduation” in the sense that my religious formation is done! Pope Francis warned that Confirmation is not the “Sacrament of Good-bye” but a renewed beginning. Confirmation strengthens the supernatural life received in Baptism, deepening our capacity to remain spiritually alive.

The Holy Spirit does this through 7 extraordinary gifts: knowledge, wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, piety & fear of the Lord. These help us live virtuously and keep alert to the voice of God within us. Let’s consider them briefly. In fact, let’s take four as a group.

Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom and Counsel. These four gifts, each in their own way help us develop a “Catholic Brain” that is to say, having a Christ-centered way of thinking. These help us to apply, to explain and defend the teachings of Christ. These gifts help us to see and discern the events of life with the eyes of faith. They shed light on the decisions we must make and help us know what to accept and what to reject because not everything we see and hear is good, right, or true.

Fortitude is the Spirit’s gift of courage. Living requires courage, the strength not to become weary or discouraged. We must have the courage to do what is right and stand by it even when it is unpopular. How often we feel the pressure to “conform,” to go along with the crowd, to water down our convictions or compromise our beliefs.

The gifts of piety and fear of the Lord help cultivate our love, our devotion, our reverence for God through our worship, prayer, and sacramental life. We might say, they help us develop a Catholic heart. Our love and reverence for God move us to also love and reverence our neighbor, to have eyes and ears open to the needs and suffering of others. These gifts move us to practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and to realize that “I” am not the center of the universe.

These are the great gifts that the newly confirmed will receive from the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Pentecost. But they are gifts that cannot lay dormant. We must open the package to know their power.

I thank your catechists and sponsors for their support and guidance. Sponsors should be able to say to a newly confirmed—“If you want to know how to live a good Christian, Catholic life, you can look to me!” Today is not a duty of a day for a sponsor but the beginning of a life-long spiritual relationship! I am always grateful for my sponsor for two reasons: 1) He was a good role model and 2) He was the best gift-giver!”

The Holy Spirit is sure to bring seven gifts today. Don’t forget your gift…the greatest and most important being, your witness of faith!