The month of June begins with the culmination of the Easter season on the feast of Pentecost. The celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection through Easter renewed our hope and joy.
Now, with the feast of Pentecost, we are reminded of the power and working of the Holy Spirit poured out upon the Apostles.
This was not only a gift for the Apostles. The Spirit of the Lord first descended upon Jesus. He sends his Spirit upon the Apostles, and the Spirit continues to be present and active in the Church and in individual believers.
Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. He was recognized as the promised Messiah when the Holy Spirit descended upon him at his baptism.
His whole life and mission were carried out with the full outpouring of the Spirit from the Father. “This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah’s, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1287).
Jesus spoke of the gift of the Spirit that would be given to the Apostles and thus to the Church.
In his Last Supper discourse, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).
Pentecost
After Jesus’ Ascension, the Apostles once again retreat out of fear. Jesus is no longer physically present with them and their understanding of all they have experienced remains limited.
As the Apostles are gathered in the Upper Room, the Spirit comes to them through a strong driving wind and tongues of fire.
The fearful Apostles are transformed into courageous witnesses of Jesus. They begin to proclaim boldly the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus.
After Peter’s preaching, thousands were baptized.
After receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the Apostles go out on mission. They set out on courageous journeys, encountering a wide variety of peoples, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus, and joyfully accepting persecution and suffering.
The lives of the Apostles after Pentecost give insight into the working of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.
Receiving the Holy Spirit
We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. In the Rite of Baptism, the blessing of the water recounts the Spirit’s action with water in creation, the Flood, and the Baptism of Jesus.
Then the priest prays, “By the power of the Holy Spirit give to the water the grace of your Son, so that in the Sacrament of Baptism all those whom you have created in your likeness may be cleansed from sin and rise to a new birth of innocence by water and the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptismal waters are imbued with the Holy Spirit to bring new life to the baptized. Through the pouring of water over the head and the words, “I Baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, the newly Baptized is brought into the communion of the Blessed Trinity.
In Confirmation, we receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the Apostles did on Pentecost. The anointing with Holy Chrism and the words “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” strengthens the faithful to witness to God’s love and power through their words and deeds. Receiving the Holy Spirit in Confirmation roots us more deeply as a child of God and unites us more closely to Jesus. We are clothed with power from on high to be courageous in our witness of faith and the gifts of the Spirit are increased in us (cf. CCC 1303).
For most of us, our experience of Confirmation was not a strong driving wind and tongues of fire that led to bold proclamations of Jesus. So what does living in the Spirit look like in our daily Christian lives?
Life in the Spirit
“The Church invites us to call upon the Holy Spirit every day, especially at the beginning and end of every important action” (CCC 2670).
Every day we are to call upon the Holy Spirit and ask for his presence with us. Before and after every important action — there is no limit.
You likely do multiple important things in a day. Each of those actions or experiences is an opportunity to call upon the Holy Spirit. It is as simple as praying, “Come Holy Spirit.”
In our daily lives, the action of the Spirit is rarely a strong driving wind, but rather a still small voice, as Elijah heard the Lord.
St. Augustine calls the Holy Spirit “the quiet guest of our soul.”
Time to be quiet and still to enter into prayer allows us to learn to listen to the Spirit speaking in our hearts. The Holy Spirit helps us to be receptive to God. We can recognize God’s presence in our lives through the fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fruitfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Holy Spirit is our advocate and consoler. When he is invited to act, he strengthens and encourages in times of trial. He brings guidance, wisdom, and knowledge.
God’s ways are not our ways. We need the presence of the Spirit to navigate our tumultuous times. We need the Spirit to teach us to pray as we ought. We need the Spirit to remain in Jesus and to be one with the Father.
Let us pray each day, “Come Holy Spirit.”
Sarah Pandl is a member of St. Christopher Parish in Verona. She works for the Evangelical Catholic and loves living in tune with the liturgical calendar of the Church.