I recently spoke with someone who frustrated me by telling me that her job as a disciple was complete. In other words, she felt that since she had served the Lord her whole life, she could shift into low gear. Take a rest, maybe. I tried to convince her that God wasn’t done with her.
Pentecost is called the “birthday of the Church,” but it is so much more than a historical event we remember once a year. Pentecost is a reminder that God still desires to breathe new life into His people. The same Holy Spirit who descended upon the Apostles is still at work today — in our homes, our parish, our families, and our hearts.
Before that Pentecost, the Apostles were afraid and tired. They were uncertain, hesitant, and hiding behind locked doors. Yet after receiving the Holy Spirit, those same ordinary folks walked into the world with courage, clarity, and conviction. What changed? They finally stopped relying only on themselves and began relying on the power of God working within them. My conversation last week makes clear to me that this message is deeply relevant for us today.
Many people are spiritually exhausted. We carry stress, discouragement, family struggles, financial pressures, worries about the future, and a culture that often pulls us away from faith. At times we all feel stuck, overwhelmed, or spiritually “locked behind doors” just like the Apostles once were. But Pentecost reminds us that God does not abandon His people in those moments. The Holy Spirit strengthens us precisely in the middle of ordinary life.
The Holy Spirit is not reserved simply for dramatic spiritual experiences. The Spirit works quietly and practically. The Spirit gives patience to exhausted parents, wisdom during difficult decisions, courage to forgive someone who hurt us, and strength to remain faithful when life becomes difficult. God’s Spirit helps us speak with kindness instead of anger, hope instead of cynicism, and compassion instead of indifference.
If you are one of the folks feeling spiritually passive, i.e. waiting for someone else to fix the world, to strengthen the Church, or pass on the Faith, then Pentecost is offering a challenge to recognize that each baptized person has been given gifts for a purpose. The Church is strongest not when people merely attend, but when they allow the Holy Spirit to work through them.
Perhaps this Pentecost is an invitation to ask a simple but important question: “Holy Spirit, what are You asking of me right now?” The Holy Spirit transformed fearful disciples into courageous witnesses. We can still be transformed as well. This Pentecost, let’s not simply celebrate what God did long ago. Let’s open our hearts to what God still desires to do today…. through us!
In His love,
Fr J.J.