Come O Holy Spirit (Pentecost Sunday, B, 2021)

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Down the ages, we have been praying for the presence and assistance of the Spirit. And I am sure God doesn't refuse to grant His Spirit to those who ask of It. But haven’t we had enough of this Spirit? Why do we still need the Spirit in our time? Do we seek to receive again and again what we have always received? Or do we seek to renew what has been received? So many questions indeed! But one thing is clear and indisputable: there is still an urgent need of the Holy Spirit in our time and clime.

 

I look around and see ruins, emptiness, devastations, pollution and moral degeneration. The entire created order seems to have gone out of shape; many things have fallen apart. The Psalmist is thus right when he prayed, “LORD, SEND FORTH YOUR SPIRIT, AND RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH” (cf. Psa. 104:30).


Before creation, the earth was a formless void; darkness covered the face of the deep; and a wind from God swept over the face of the waters (cf. Gen. 1: 1-2ff). “Ruach” is a Hebrew word for wind, Spirit or breath. The wind from God which swept over the face of the waters was the Spirit of God. In the creation of the world, the Spirit was actively at work. In Genesis 2:7, God put the breath of life into a mold of dust and it became a living being. Here, we still see the creative power of the Spirit, giving life to a lifeless figure.

 

The Spirit is not only a creative or life-giving agent, it is also a source of empowerment. It prepared and empowered Mary to take up the task of bringing forth the Redeemer into the world. It descended upon the Redeemer in the form of a dove during His baptism and empowered Him for the task ahead. Under the influence of the Spirit, Peter and all the apostles were empowered to bear witness without fear. Just imagine a former coward like Peter becoming a firebrand witness to Christ! Of course, the Spirit was always at work!

 

By the power of their testimonies, many people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds and orientations were brought together under the umbrella of Christ. And they all understood the apostles in their languages as they testified. How come? The Spirit, an agent of unity and love, was at work!


In Acts 2:41, it is recorded that over three thousand people were converted to Christ after the preaching of Peter, an uneducated fisherman. How come? The Spirit, an agent of truth and conversion, was at work! Christ promised that “when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead us to all the truth” (cf. Jn. 16:13). Through Peter, thousands were led to the truth and converted to Christ.

 

As we reflect on the impact and relevance of the Spirit in the creation and salvation events, we don't need a soothsayer to tell us that we still need that same Spirit in our time: in our individual lives, in our families, in our communities, in our nations and in the world at large. Creation seems to have lost the touch of the beauty God endowed on it. The moral atmosphere that God beautifully put in place has been terribly polluted. God made a beautiful world; but we have marred that beauty by our choices. 


Prayer:

O God, send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth! Enkindle in us the fire of Your love, Amen!

Have a Spirit-filled celebration!



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