“Pentecost” literally means “fiftieth.” It is a feast still celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Passover by our Jewish brothers and sisters. For us, obviously, it is a feast celebrated on the fiftieth day after the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
What is the event we celebrate today? The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary as tongues of fire. The frightened Apostles were transformed into fiery preachers and Evangelizers and were given the gift of tongues by a special anointing of the Holy Spirit. Those who listened to the Apostles experienced a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit and understood St. Peter and the others. Finally, the early Christians became powerful witnesses and brave martyrs for their faith in Jesus. The evidence of their lives showed that they were Spirit-filled.
For reflection: Spirit-filled people pray and worship God in their families and parishes. They try to grow continually in their faith, and they seek out every opportunity to discover Christ and what it means to be children of God. Spirit-filled people allow the Spirit to change their lives through their regular reading of the Bible and their frequenting of the Sacraments. Spirit-filled people speak words that heal, restore, make people happy, and build people up. Spirit-filled people pass on the love of God to the people living around them and do so by their acts of kindness, mercy, and charity. What does the evidence of our lives show? Are we spirit-filled people?
“Come Holy Spirit. Make our ears to hear. Make our eyes to see. Make our mouths to speak. Make our hearts to seek. Make our hands to reach out. And touch the world with your love. Amen.” St. John Henry Newman
