Today, on the Feast of Pentecost, we read the stories of the disciples’ reception of the Holy Spirit in both the Gospel and the First Reading. This is an event which empowers them to become the first Christian leaders and establish the Church of Christ. But, as we will see, this event is much more than that. It is the completion of God’s plan to bring salvation to all of humanity from the very beginning of time.
The Gospel for this Sunday (John 20:19-23) takes place on the evening of the first day of the week. The disciples are locked away in a room fearing repercussions from the Jewish leaders responsible for the death of Jesus. All of a sudden Jesus appears to them showing them the wounds of his passion to reveal his identity and they rejoice to see him. He offers them reconciliation and gives them a commission saying, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21).
After this the author of John’s Gospel tells us, “He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.” (John 20:22). Just as God breathed into the nostrils of the first man, Adam, thereby giving him life (Genesis 2:7), Jesus now breathes God’s Spirit into the disciples giving them the power to become alive spiritually as apostles.
In the First Reading for today (Acts 2:1-11), Luke gives a different version of the sending of the Holy Spirit. He places it in Jerusalem at the time of the Jewish Feast of Pentecost where the disciples are once again gathered in the upper room. It is a powerful event reminiscent of the theophanies of God in the Old Testament: “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.” (Acts 2:1b-3).
Once the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit, they are given a special power and a strange phenomenon occurs. They are able to speak the various languages of the people from surrounding nations who have gathered and proclaim to them the news of Jesus as the Messiah, a promise the Jews have been waiting for since the time of King David.
The pilgrims hearing the apostles are astounded and amazed, exclaiming, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?” (Acts 2:8-9).
If we consider the workings of God throughout the history of Israel, we can see that this event is not as surprising as it appears to be. Rather it is just the counterpart to an event which had occurred several millennia ago after the time of Adam and Eve.
It begins in the Book of Genesis written by a group of priestly authors during the time of the Babylonian Exile (598-587BC) to explain the origins of the world and God’s relationship to humanity. Here are found the primeval narratives of creation along with the flaw of human arrogance within Adam and Eve which leads to sin and their fall from grace.
Although God intervenes at one point, sending a deluge to destroy the world in the hope that one man, Noah, and his family, might return humanity to God’s intended state of holiness (Genesis 6:5-11:9),the need for redemption continue to dominate. Whatever change had occurred in Adam and Eve remains inherent within humanity and sin continues to pervade the world.
In the subsequent story of the Tower of Babel, all of the people seek to make a name for themselves by building a tower into the sky (Genesis 11:4). Out of human pride they wish to be like gods, just like Adam and Eve before them. They want to use their God-given talents for their own selfish purposes, instead of for the benefit of God’s creation.
Due to their perpetuation of sin, God confuses human language and scatters the people to save them from the consequences of their own prideful rebellion (Genesis 11:1-9). The people of the world are unable to communicate in one language and the ability to cooperate disappears as nations constantly battle for domination. There also exists a lack of cohesiveness with regard to religious beliefs and the world’s perception of God all but disappears.
God then changes tactics, resulting in the choice of one man in order to bring hope and salvation into the world, as we move to the story of Abraham in Genesis 12. Abraham’s descendants will give rise to the chosen nation of Israel from which the Savior, or Messiah, Jesus will come.
Through his teaching, his healing ministry, and his crucifixion and resurrection God’s salvation comes to a world which was shattered thousands of years before. Jesus, himself, tells us of the work that God has accomplished through him. From the cross with his last breath, we are told, “He said, ‘It is finished.’” (John 19:30b).
Jesus has finished the work that God had given him and handed over his Spirit to the disciples. Now they are able to restore the union which was ruptured at the Tower of Babel with the ability to speak to the visitors attending the feast in Jerusalem each in their own tongue. For the mission of the followers of Jesus is to take the good news of God’s salvation to all nations.
As Christians today we continue to spread the message of God’s salvation brought through Jesus. But our job is so much easier than it was for the apostles! It has been exponentially enhanced with the ability for global communication through the use of computers, social media, and world-wide travel. It is our task to use our God-given talents and technological advancements to overcome our differences and divisions and unite with one another in Christ, speaking his language of love and mercy uttered through the power of the Holy Spirit.
