Mission Society of the Philippines

Homilies

SOLEMNITY OF THE PENTECOST: THE SPIRIT WILL TEACH AND REMIND US

Jn 14:15-16; 23b-26


THE SOLEMNITY OF THE PENTECOST follows after the Solemnity of the Ascension. These two great feasts of the Church are related to each other. The ascending of Christ to heaven marks also the descent of the Holy Spirit. This movement tells us that the presence of Christ in us takes a new form in and through the Holy Spirit.

Let us try to reflect on the Holy Spirit according to what the readings tell us. Let’s begin with something theological and we can find it in the gospel passage.

First, Jesus said to his disciples, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.” The sending and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world show that God never leaves his people; God never leaves us. Christ has been faithful to his promise that he will be with us until the end of time. His ascension to heaven is not to be understood as end of his presence with us, but rather his presence continues through the Holy Spirit, whom St Paul calls both “the Spirit of the Father,” and the “the Spirit of Christ.”

Second, the gospel tells us the function of the Holy Spirit in our Christian life. Jesus says, “The Holy Spirit… will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” Jesus has been known, during his public ministry, as Rabbi or teacher. Everything we would like to know in relation to our salvation was already taught to us by Jesus. If this is the case, what does the Holy Spirit teach us? Jesus makes it clear that the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth, will continue to teach what Jesus had already taught us and will remind us of these teachings. Thus, the Holy Spirit guides and enlightens us of all the Jesus had so far taught us. The great ecumenical councils of the Church, like Vatican II, are a proof of the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit who teaches and reminds the followers of Christ.

Now, let us move to something practical. The next point will be taken from the Second Reading. The Letter of Paul to the Romans (8:8-17) answers the question, “What does it mean to live by the Spirit of God?” According to Paul, to live by the Spirit is not to live “according to the flesh.” Paul explains this as a way of life distancing from God because of our sins. If we cling to our old sinful life, we are living according to the flesh. On the contrary, living by the Spirit of God means receiving the Spirit of adoption which makes us “children of God,” and therefore leads us also cry out, “Abba, Father.”

The Holy Spirit is revered in the Church as creator. In fact, the Latin hymn bears the title, “Veni, Creator, Spiritus.” He creates, and he re-creates. For St Paul, creation is still far from complete. It still awaits its liberation from whatever holds it captive, and prevents it from living fully the new life that Jesus has brought. New life is not only a result of Christ’s resurrection, but it also an indication of the presence of the Holy Spirit who continually renews us.

 

 


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