In our first reading we heard the story of the Holy Spirit’s arrival. The experience was so overwhelming that the first disciples could only describe it as being over taken by violent winds and fire! It is now fifty days since Easter. The way Luke puts it shows that Pentecost is a milestone in the story of salvation. He attempts to describe the event in human terms (winds and flames) but it is never possible to explain a divine mystery. The coming of the Holy Spirit is the event which inaugurates the final stage of the salvation history; this new era includes our present times and builds to the end of time.
Acts is about mission, about speaking, proclaiming, the good news to people everywhere; Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit is the driving force behind this work, e.g. in the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch, we read “the Spirit said to Philip. . .” Today we read that they spoke in other languages through the Spirit’s power.
In our second reading we learn that Christians are obligated to live according to the Spirit as children of God. Paul has told us that Christian living is centered in life “in the Spirit rather than on any form of self-centeredness. The Christian is under an obligation to Christ: to live according to the Spirit. Now he says that those who live in the Spirit are children of God. This implies a new relationship with God.
In our Gospel reading, Jesus describes His relationship with the Father and encourages his disciples to believe. He then promises them the Holy Spirit and describes its importance for guiding the disciples and binding them in spiritual unity with himself and the Father. As faithful Christians we are to continue Jesus’ works – and do even greater.
There really are two different schools of thought as to the “Gifts of the Holy Spirit.” There is the Charismatic or Pentecostal view and the Scholastic view. From Pentecostle School we get the familiar list drawn from 1 Corinthians:
* Wisdom
* Knowledge
* Discernment of spirits
* Speaking in tongues
* Interpretation of tongues
* Prophecy
* Faith
* Working of miracles
* Healing
The Scholastic school (drawn from the reflections of late Midi-evil Christians) is probably less familiar to us but provides valuable expressions of more subtle spiritual gifts:
1. Wisdom, Recognizing God’s work in the world
2. Understanding, comprehending what it takes to follow Christ
3. Right Judgment (Council), making good decisions
4. Courage (fortitude), taking a Christian stand for what is right
5. Knowledge, understanding Scripture and Christian Tradition and always seeking deeper understanding
6. Reverence (Piety), respect for God
7. Fear of the Lord, wonder and Awe of God’s work, love and beauty
All Christians need to pray for growth in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The words of a very old Latin (Veni, Sancte Spiritus) hymn will help us end with a prayer.
Come, Holy Spirit,
send forth the heavenly
radiance of your light.
Come, provider for the poor,
come giver of gifts,
come, light of the heart.
Greatest comforter,
sweet guest of the soul,
sweet consolation.
In labor, rest,
in heat, temperance,
in tears, solace.
O most blessed light,
fill the inmost heart
of your faithful.
Without your divine will,
there is nothing in humanity,
nothing is harmless.
Wash that which is unclean,
water that which is dry,
heal that which is wounded.
Bend that which is inflexible,
warm that which is chilled,
make right that which is wrong.
Give to your faithful,
who rely on you,
the sevenfold gifts.
Give reward to virtue,
give salvation at our passing on,
give eternal joy.
Amen. Alleluia.
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