PENTECOST SUNDAY – Year C
- Fr. John Kirk
- Jun 11
- 3 min read

We live in the age of the Spirit, which is the age of the Church. All of Church History, from the Lord’s Ascension into glory until His end return in glory, is the age of the Spirit. At times in the history of the Church the presence of the Spirit has been more “visible”, and more people have had experiences which make them aware of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in their lives. We are blessed to live in such an age. Large numbers throughout the world are conscious of the Spirit in their lives, which moves them toward greater holiness and carrying out the mission of Christ. The Spirit is most active and makes people more aware of His presence in times of extreme crisis and growth in the life of the Church.
The Spirit was present all the time in the life of Jesus, but became more actively present in Jesus at His baptism and the beginning of His public ministry. It continued throughout His public ministry of countering evil, healing, teaching, and forming the disciples. At times, as the need was greater, the Spirit was “more present”.
The same Spirit that was present in the life of Jesus is present to the Church Body of Christ in all its needs in all times and places. Just as a human body’s forces mobilize to ward off evil or provide for new growth, so too the Church Body of Christ is powered by the Spirit to meet the needs of every age. Naturally the Spirit becomes more active in times of danger for the Church. The great dangers to the Church and individual members are apathy, indifference, a lost sense of the presence of the Lord, a lost sense of sin, and denial of the faith. A human body that becomes that way is more subject to disease, illness, accidents, and is less able to meet its own and others’ needs. The Church Body of Christ can become more subject to the forces of sin and evil, and less able to carry out the mission of Christ.
There are many ways that human bodies can be re-energized through food, rest, exercise, healing of diseases, avoiding harmful substances, and a new or renewed mission in life. So too there are many ways the Church Body of Christ is renewed in its mission and life in Christ, empowered, healed, able to face its enemies of sin and weakness, and bring new life. The source of the Church’s power is the Person of the Holy Spirit. He brings the power of Christ’s redemptive works of suffering, death and resurrection to the Church Body of Christ.
Before the first coming of the Spirit on Pentecost, the disciples were not ready as the Body of Christ to continue the work and mission of Christ. “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.” But with the great infusion of the Spirit’s power, the disciples became well equipped to begin the mission of Christ. “When the day of Pentecost came, it found the brethren gathered in one place. Suddenly from up in the sky came a noise like a strong, driving wind…Tongues as of fire appeared which parted and came to rest on them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to express themselves…and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them.”
The same Spirit gives different gifts to members of the Body of Christ to carry out the work of the Body of Christ. The same soul in our human body powers different members in different ways to do the different works the human body has to do for its life and growth. “There are different gifts but the same Spirit; there are different ministries but the same Lord; there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone. To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
Water, rain, fire, wind and air which are the same in their nature, work differently on different natures and are received differently. Water hitting concrete has a different effect than water hitting fertile ground. The Holy Spirit is the same, but works differently in different people according to God’s plan, and the different kinds of responses, conditions, and circumstances. Each member need only be open to the Holy Spirit’s coming in power to meet the needs of each and every one!
Reflection from Divine Mercy #1135
“What happiness it is to have the consciousness of God in one’s heart and to live in close intimacy with Him.”
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