Pentecost Sunday Mass

Pentecost Sunday during the day

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Pentecost, like Christmas and Easter, is a feast for the eyes, ears, and nose as we burn incense, light candles, sing songs, and gather in festivity. The celebrants and many in the congregation wear red on this occasion. Especially since Popes John XXIII and Paul VI convened the Second Vatican Council, we have come to appreciate the gift of the Church for each of us personally, and to the whole world. 

There may be salvation outside of the Church, but there is no salvation without it. The universe depends upon our fidelity; all Christian denominations are anchored to the Gospel by our fidelity despite their protests; and we rely on the Holy Spirit to keep us faithful. And the Lord has assured us, the Church will always be afflicted and will never fail. If we were silent about the Coming of the Lord, the very stones would cry out! 

The Sequence of Pentecost recalls the many gifts of the Spirit, especially the healing, reassurance, and comfort of knowing God has chosen and gathered us. The Spirit is our 

most welcome guest;
    Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat; [and]
    Solace in the midst of woe.

The Spirit is also that blessed impulse to make disciples of all nations, especially through the forgiveness of sins. "Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven!" That authority can only come from God, as the scribes rightly pointed out. And yet we're authorized both to name the sins and to forgive them as the nations turn to the Lord. 

There is much wisdom in the world. The Catholic Church has recognized and appreciated the depth of wisdom among the many religions of the world. I was struck recently by the Apostles Barnabas and Paul as they were mistaken for the false gods Zeus and Hermes. Even as they denounced the foolishness of the Lystrans, they reminded them of the God who has always provided 

"rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”

But the world cannot know its sin without the Holy Spirit. Abortion seems like a good idea to many people. Why not manufacture babies in the wombs of poor women while the wealthy pursue their careers? Why not alter a child's sexuality to fit their spiritual gender? Assisted suicide seems like a good idea; why should I suffer the indignity of approaching death? I don't want to be a burden on other people. 

They really don't understand the dignity of being made in God's image and likeness, nor its grave responsibilities. Much less can they imagine the blessedness of suffering for the Kingdom of God. 

These truths are hard to explain, but we know they're true first because God has revealed them to us; and secondly, because we see good and evil more clearly. Freed of avarice, greed, lust, and all the deadly sins, we understand their deceit as we turn toward the light. If, at first, we saw these truths dimly, as in a brass mirror, we have become convinced of their origin in God. Our very loathing of such ideas persuades us. 

But we understand the attraction of evil, its fascination and lure. It is baffling, powerful, and cunning. No one is entirely free of its charm. We have been there. 

This is why we celebrate Pentecost. The Spirit of God coming upon us gives us the ability and the willingness to forgive sins. This power is greater than a nuclear bomb, and sweeter than the roar of a Harley-Davidson. There is no joy on earth like that of forgiving our enemies. This is our gift to the world; shared in most solemn obedience to the Lord's command: Forgive as you have been forgiven.