AN UNRECOGNIZED GIFT????? - Pinse 2010

The same Holy Spirit that was given to the apostles and to those women and men who first journeyed with Jesus is given to us. Do we truly know the gift that is ours?

The readings for this feast of Pentecost present a triptych of three different but complementary understandings of the Holy Spirit. From Acts, we hear the account of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Jewish feast of Pentecost. Independent of its Christian significance, the Jewish feast of Passover, originally an agricultural festival, commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. The coming of the Holy Spirit on this day emphasizes the new covenant of life in God that is given to us through the salvation accomplished by Jesus.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus, after commissioning his disciples, instructs them to “wait” until they have been clothed with power from on high before beginning this arduous task (24,49; see also Acts 1,8). Acts, also written by Luke, opens with the apostles?and Mary the mother of Jesus, some of his relatives and the women who had journeyed with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem (Luke 8,1-3; 23,49)?waiting and praying for this promised power.

In the Gospel from John 20, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Easter evening. (In Greek, the same word is used for spirit?breath?wind.) The gesture reminds us of the creation of Adam in Genesis 2,7 when God “breathes” life into the first human creature. The alternate Gospel, John 14,15-16.23b-26, speaks of the Holy Spirit as an “another” Advocate, like Jesus, who will be with the disciples and guide them in Jesus’ ways. The second reading from Romans, likewise speaks of the life-giving powers of the Spirit. Through our Baptism, the same spirit, the same power of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells within us. That is awesome power!

Personally, I am convinced that the gift of the Holy Spirit is the most unrecognized, underutilized gift that any of us have ever received. Do we really believe that something of God is living within us? (See 1 Corinthians 3,16.) Do we really believe that we are not left to our own abilities in trying to live a good life, following the teachings of Jesus? Do we really believe in the help that God’s Spirit can be in the tasks of our everyday lives? I remember driving to my PhD oral exams, saying over and over again the words of Ephesians 3,20 . . .trying to remember that I was not alone in this overwhelming task. The Spirit’s gift of patience and endurance can help us in those times when the going is rough, when hurts and wrongs rupture relationships, when misunderstandings seem to rule the day, when life asks more of us than we think we have the ability to manage. God does not leave us on our own; God does not expect us to do it alone.

Finally, in the reading from 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds the community that each of them has received the gift of the Spirit, each has a particular gift, a particular manifestation of the Spirit (so 1 Corinthians 12,3-7; see also 1 Cor 12,27-31). Do we really believe that we personally have received a “gift” of the Spirit? What is our particular gift? (See also Isaiah 11:2; Galatians 5,22-26.) If we don’t recognize it, we will never use it. Take a moment this Pentecost day discover anew the Power of God that is within you, and the gift that is given to you!

Anne Elizabeth Sweet, OCSO Tautra Mariakloster
Sister Anne Elizabeth has a PhD in Scripture from the University of Notre Dame. She directs Bible based retreats for individuals and groups at Tautra Mariakloster.