The Soul of the Church
Pentecost - A
Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23
Today's liturgy of the Word focuses our attention on the Holy Spirit, the other Paraclete, whose coming Jesus announced to his apostles before his passion (John 14:16). For nine days Christ's disciples prayed with the words of today's psalm, "Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth" (see Ps. 104:30), and that first novena in the history of the Church proved very effective.
The descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-11) can be contrasted with the story of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9). The tower was a project of the Babylonian empire that with the help of one language and new technology, wanted to ensure its fame and dominion over all humanity. Aimed for the sky, it symbolized the pride of the rulers of Babylon who wanted to rise above the stars and equate themselves with God (see Is. 14:13-14). On the other hand in the Cenacle, a group of former fishermen, tax collectors, and sinners - along with the Blessed Virgin Mary - did not dream about fame and dominion, but in the languages of the nations proclaimed the mighty works of God (Acts 2:11).
In the tradition of Israel, the Pentecost commemorates the day when God gave the Law - the Torah - to his people. However, when the nation did not obey this law, God foretold through the prophet Ezekiel that he would send his Spirit into the hearts of the people causing them to live according to God's commandments and obey His statutes (Ezek. 36:26-27). This prophecy is fulfilled when the disciples are baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5; 2:4; 1 Cor. 12:13). God's Law, which was previously written on stone tablets at Sinai, is now being written by God on our hearts (Jer. 31:33).
In the Gospel of John Jesus "breathes" the Holy Spirit on his disciples. This "breath" reminds us about the first "breath" that made man alive (Gen. 2:7) and the prophecy of Ezekiel about a "breath" that would revive the house of Israel (Ezek. 37:9-12). That breath transforms fearful disciples into brave preachers of the Gospel. Born of the Holy Spirit they are set free to go where the Spirit of Jesus will lead them (John 3:8).
"Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7). As the scribes questioned the authority of Jesus "to forgive sins on earth" (Mark 2:10), many today question the authority of the Church to forgive sins. And yet, the risen Lord shares this authority with the Church: "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained" (John 20:23). The mission of the Church is to call all people to "be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). This "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18) is exercised by the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Triune God. This is evident in the formula of absolution:
"God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".
The presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church also gives a new meaning to the word "Christ". Now we can speak about the "whole Christ" namely the Head - the glorified Jesus Christ - and the body - all the baptized (1 Cor. 12:12-13; CCC, 795). The Holy Spirit unites the faithful with Jesus and with each other, enables the Church to proclaim that Jesus is Lord (1 Cor. 12:3; Rev. 19:16), and equips her with various spiritual gifts needed for her growth and mission. The Holy Spirit is the "soul" of the Church.