The Power of the Spirit

Pentecost is called the “birthday of the Church,” because on this very day, 50 days after The Resurrection, and 10 days after the Ascension, the Holy Spirit was sent down to the people, whose hearts were opened and a flame was instilled in their hearts that remain burning despite the many attempts to extinguish it.  On that day many were baptized with the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit, the baptism that gives us the inheritance of God.  On that day a new and common language was granted to the people - the language of the Holy Spirit, the language of love.

On Pentecost, the nations were gathered together and all received the same Spirit.  But this Spirit is manifested in different ways, unique ways to each individual as appropriate and conducive to their calling just as different gifts and talents are given to different people. Yet, though as diverse as the manifestations of the Spirit may be, they are all unified by the one binding element - love.  Before the Spirit all could not understand the differences of one another but with the Spirit, all have become One in Him, who is with the Father and the Son.  At the time of the Tower of Babylon the people came to not understand one another and the tower not being able to be built because they were not one in the Spirit. They were trying to build a tower to grasp and seize what did not belong to them, so in their selfish desires and disordered ambitions they were scattered.  At Pentecost, the scattering at Babylon was unified in Jerusalem. 

Today we share the one baptism of Christ in the Spirit.  And the inheritance that comes with this baptism can never be taken away from us.  We are people of the Pentecost, and we should act and behave as such.  Though many, we are one.  Though different cultures, we are one family.  Though separated by oceans, we celebrate the one mass. Though born of different ages, we participate in the one enteral life.  With the Spirit we are one in the Father and the Son.  We are people of the Resurrection and the Pentecost.  Let’s show it by the common language we share - love.  May all that we do and say radiate the glow of the flame that has been placed in our hearts. 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love.  Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.  

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