Pentecost Sunday
Citations of:
Ac 2,1-11: http://www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9abtnjb.htm
1Co 12, 12-13: http://www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9asrrvl.htm
Jn 20,19-23: http://www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9a3mhet.htm
The paschal journey
of the disciples comes to its completion in the joyful welcoming of the gift of
the Spirit. They, who has responded to Jesus’ call, who had followed him and
listened to him, who had doubted and suffered when faced with his suffering and
death, and who had rejoiced finally in his glorious resurrection, can now start
to live the fullness of their vocation through the outpouring of the Spirit.
If Jesus’ Ascension
into Heaven has marked the moment of their maturity as disciples, since the
Master entrusted to them the responsibility for the mission of proclaiming the
Gospel, today’s feast sees them receive the gift of God through the Spirit, so
as to fulfil the mission received. The various call that each of us receives
from the Lord is always proportionate to those who receive it and, above all,
He who calls never fails to gives the means to respond to the call.
“As the Father has
sent me, so I am sending you”: this is the mandate that Jesus has entrusted to
disciples of every nation and of all time, by virtue of the gift of the Spirit.
But, we ask: what does it mean to say we are sent. The words of Pope Francis
help us to provide an answer: “The mission of the Church is to evangelise and
to forgive sins” (General Audience, 13 November 2013). In this we are
accompanied by the Spirit, and for it we need the His gifts.
To evangelise is to
give a form to the Gospel by our lives, to announce by our action, with our
choices and our behaviour that Jesus is risen and that the doors of Heaven are
open. To feel called anew to an ordinary life of witness, in which each one can
play their part, it is enough to mind the invitation of St. Francis to his
friars, “Be always preaching the Gospel, and if necessary use words”. The gift
of the Spirit is given to everyone, because each person can play his part
according to his charisms, state of life and vocation. The only vocation that
the Lord does not send our way is to be a “spectator of life”. The people of
God is called and involved as a whole, and no one is left aside.
Being pardoned of
sin is a tangible sign for everyone of the love and the mercy of God, so much
so that it is fundamental that this “fount” of goodness be always available to
God’s people. This comes about in two ways and in two distinct moments of life:
there is a first remission of sins, because “the Sacrament of Baptism all sins
are remitted, original sin and all of our personal sins, as well as the
suffering of sin”. However, “this saving intervention does not take away our
human nature and its weakness — we are all weak and we are all sinners — and it
does not take from us our responsibility to ask for forgiveness every time we
err! I cannot be baptized many times, but I can go to Confession and by doing
so renew the grace of Baptism. It is as though I were being baptized for a
second time. The Lord Jesus is very very good and never tires of forgiving us”
(Pope Francis, General Audience, 13 November 2013).
The journey of
God’s people is sustained by the Spirit and His gifts, for the proclamation of
the Gospel to all peoples through a life lived in a Christian manner, with
charity, perseverance, courage and “creative fidelity” to the Word and the
Tradition. It is a journey that is not without its falls, but the love of God
and his mercy are always greater and more superabundant than any of our
failings. Neither is just a washing of our face to wipe out what has happened
and its consequences. Instead, it is a gift of love that allows us to start
ever anew and to live in joy.