Pentecost is a joyful feast of life-giving grace, of ideals restored, and awareness of life's call made new. On our once-made journey we may lose sight of our true identity. Christ's farewell words recall us to sanity and to wisdom. "The power of the Holy Spirit will come into you and you will be my witnesses to the very ends of the earth." He asks for generous fidelity and luminous love. Today, St Luke gives a vivid picture never to be forgotten. He uses language of historic fact and Scripture symbol.
We see the discord and dividing darkness of Babel replaced by the life-giving unity of the Upper Room. The disciples are gathered together in charity, in prayer, in the breaking of the bread, and with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The people of God are born anew and gifts are given to each for the task and mission ahead.
So often we are blind and do not see our pilgrim way. Many, in coldness, never learn to love. Our inherent weakness may cause noble resolve to perish still-born. Pentecost challenges on precious gifts unused, promising acres untilled and call of conscience as yet unanswered. We remember mighty wind and tongues of fire and people from the world-wide human family crowding the streets of Jerusalem. The sower of grace-filled seed goes forth today as we pray. "Lord send my roots rain." Pentecost song unites us in hope made new.
O Most Blessed Light Divine, Shine within these hearts of thine, And our inmost being fill!
The Holy Spirit comes to mend our broken lives even when we have stained the fabric of our days by selfish and cynical ways that betrayed the saving Truth. Today's grace can fan to flame the dying embers of faith and love. We can pass from our self-chosen darkness to redeeming light. Each path we travel can be a new Damascus road. Each room can be for us another Upper Room with mighty wind and tongues of cleansing fire.
Mary, first and most faithful of disciples, will guide us to a new Pentecost, open anew for us the Scriptures, point to Christ and say "Whatever He says to you, do it". This indeed is a day of healing granted, sin forgiven, and Divine promises fulfilled. To us will be granted new gifts of speech with words of healing, power and love.
We are called, in the Spirit, to foster community, to share in saving Eucharist, to unite in prayer. Never again will we utter death-dealing words to divide and to destroy. We keep the feast of tongues made clean and in wondrous ways made new. Taught by the Holy Spirit, we will speak the truth in love and utter words to heal, to help to save.
Our hunger for God, always a latent need, is now a deep-felt want no longer to be denied, by those who strive to build for our children a civilisation of love. The mystery of today sows seed to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and saving self-control. May none dare to blight that long awaited Harvest. Come! O Holy Spirit! F.MacN