On that first Pentecost, the Risen Jesus entered a room full of fear — and breathed peace. “Peace be with you,” he said, and then breathed the Holy Spirit upon His disciples. Locked doors couldn’t stop him. From that moment, the Church was born.
Today, that same Spirit is given to us. Saint Paul tells us we are no longer slaves to fear but beloved children of God. The Spirit doesn’t just console us — it empowers us. We are sent, just as the apostles were sent. Through the Spirit, we have the courage to forgive, to love, and to live as heirs in Christ Jesus.
The world needs Spirit-filled disciples — witnesses of peace, mercy, and joy. Our yearly celebration of the Pentecost is not merely a “remembrance” of the original beginning of the Church. Each year, it is an opportunity to enter more deeply into the mystery of Pentecost, to encounter the Holy Spirit more profoundly, and to accept our missionary calling to bring the Good News to the ends of the earth. Jesus still breathes His Spirit into His Church — into you!
Come, Holy Spirit. Set our hearts on fire. Help us to live not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, crying out with trust: “Abba, Father!”
