Fifty days after Easter we celebrate the events of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples who were gathered. They were alone, waiting and wondering. Jesus had ascended into heaven. Now, at Pentecost, there was the coming of the Advocate, the Paraclete, as promised by Jesus at the Last Supper before his death.

The Feast of Pentecost brings the liturgical season of Easter to a close. With the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples, the plan of salvation is brought to its conclusion.

On this day the Church came into being and, gifted with and inspired by the Holy Spirit, it now began its mission to proclaim “the marvels of God” (Acts 2:11) to the whole world.

The Book of Acts speaks in dramatic terms of the actual event of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. There was a mighty wind and tongues of fire and, much to everyone’s astonishment, suddenly the disciples “were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech” (Acts 2:4).

St Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, then reminds us that, as followers of Christ, the Holy Spirit has made a home and dwells in each of us. St Paul describes how this indwelling radically transforms our very identity. It means that we are not just followers of Christ but beloved children of God and, as children, we are heirs! We are heirs with Christ, sharing the blessings of his resurrection.

St Paul urges us to live by the Spirit, for “everyone who is moved by the Spirit is a son of God” (Rom 8:14). It is the Spirit in us who teaches us to pray, “Abba! Father!”

This week’s readings culminate with a text from John’s Gospel reminding us of the role of the Holy Spirit in our personal daily lives and in the life of the Church. The Holy Spirit is an advocate who will guide us and remind us of all that Jesus taught. Jesus promises that “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (Jn: 14:26).

But John’s Gospel tells us something even more profound when Jesus promises that “if anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him” (Jn 14:23).

This is grace: it is God, the Trinity of three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, making their home in us, abiding in us, and, little by little, transforming us and conforming us ever more closely into God’s image. Little by little we more clearly see the world and everything in it as God sees it. And the fruit of this grace in our lives is good works … works for the coming of the Kingdom, works of compassion, hospitality and love.

Feature image: El Greco, Pentecost, 1596-1599, The Prado, Madrid

Anne Hunt

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