Sunday, May 24, is Pentecost. Mass readings: Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23.

What a wondrous feast we celebrate at Pentecost: The experience the early Church had of the Holy Spirit set them on fire, quelled their doubts and fears, and sent them forth with confidence.

Many speak of this as the “birthday” of the Church. But it looks more like a graduation. The Church has come to a kind maturity. Having been instructed by the Lord and commissioned by him, the Church is now anointed by the Holy Spirit to give witness to the ends of the earth of the greatness of God and his saving love.

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. He is the Love of God, the Wisdom of God, the Peace of God, the light of God, and the Presence of God.

First, there is rushing wind.

The text from Acts says:

suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.

These first Christians experience the rushing wind of God’s Spirit breathing spiritual life into them. It has been said that Christmas is the feast of God with us, Good Friday is the feast of God for us, but Pentecost is the feast of God in us.

Note the other image of tongues of fire:

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

The Bible often speaks of God as fire or in fiery terms: Moses saw him as a burning bush. God led the people out of Egypt through the desert as a pillar of fire. Moses went up onto a fiery Mount Sinai where God was. Scriptures also call God a holy fire, a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) and a refining fire (Isaiah 48:10; Jeremiah 9:7; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3).

So it is that our God, Holy Fire, comes to dwell in us through his Holy Spirit. Thus, we must be set afire by God’s love.