Homily for Pentecost

Dear Fellow Believers:
     Today we conclude the Easter Season with the great celebration of Pentecost! Jesus breathed upon the fearful band of his closest followers and said to them: “Receive of the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20, 22-23) This “ministry of reconciliation” was entrusted not simply to the “ordained,” but to all the “baptized.” The “community of believers” was formed from the “blood and water” that poured forth from the crucified Jesus and by the breath of the Risen Lord, which is the bond of love between the Father and the Son – the very real third person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit.
     As our days of quarantine rapidly approach three months, some wonder about the future of the Church, whose birthday we celebrate today. Will people fail to return out of fear or apathy? Every crisis is an opportunity. Let us reflect briefly on how we have experienced this “ministry of reconciliation” that has been entrusted to us.
     Every two weeks, I have a “group reunion” with men who seek to share their experience of Christ under the heading of three simple categories: prayer, study, and action. These are the pillars of the “Cursillo” movement. The Spanish word simply means “short course.” We are learning what it means to be Christians. As I listen to my friends and share my own journey, I realize that the “ministry of reconciliation” is actually being enhanced during this pandemic. One man described how a son has persuaded the family to read a book together after dinner every night. Another mentioned that his healing music has touched the hearts of many through social media. A third man reflected on how he might work with his parish priests to enhance their ability to connect with the parishioners. All of these followers of Jesus illustrate to me ways in which they are responding to the movement of the Holy Spirit, thereby forming stronger bonds and forming the community we call Church. Many of us are just beginning to discover the myriad of ways in which we can use technology to reach out to one another.
     We are all too well aware of the divisions that exist within society and between nations; yet, few things have brought us all together more effectively than this pandemic. As I ponder our many differences, I am reminded of the community in Corinth to whom St. Paul wrote centuries ago. Many who had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior were so enamored of own importance as to ignore the key roles played in the community by other “essential” workers. To them Paul said: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” (1 Corinthians 12, 7) Every day, we learn how inter-dependent we are on one another throughout the world.
     The larger community we call “Church” is simply the coming together of many smaller communities that are traditionally designated as the “domestic” Church - the Church at home. The strength and effectiveness of the larger dimensions on the local, national, and international level are intimately connected with the dynamic at home.
     When the Spirit was poured forth upon the apostles, their reticence to speak boldly was replaced by a courage to witness with great joy to the presence of the reconciling and healing Christ in their lives. As we begin to emerge from quarantine, like a long hibernation, may our shared stories enliven the larger community we call Church to be a more effective agent of grace in a broken and pain-filled world. Come, O Holy Spirit, come!
 
Yours in the Risen Lord,
Fr. Bill Foley