Clothesline 253 "Come Holy Spirit"

This past Sunday was the last Sunday before the Feast of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, which is also the birthday of the church. As it was for the past few weeks, the Gospel was again taken from John’s Gospel…Jesus’ Farewell Discourse—several chapters of what Jesus said to his apostles on the night before his arrest, trial, crucifixion and death.

It's hard to imagine what it must have been like for the apostles. They didn’t know what was about to happen, but they knew Jesus’ words were different that night. He wasn’t teaching; he spoke and acted even more intimately with them…he washed their feet and told them they must do likewise: “Be a servant leader.” He instituted the Sacrament of His Body and Blood: “Do this in remembrance of me.” And immediately after Judas received the sacrament, he left to betray Jesus…and Jesus knew it! How could this be happening? Judas leaves and he tells the apostles that he too is leaving them, that they cannot follow now: “Love others as I have loved you.” He says, “I will not leave you orphaned,” and he introduces them to the gift of His Holy Spirit, a gift that would be poured into their hearts and lives, and they would never be the same again. What a multitude of feelings they must have experienced!

From the time that Jesus ascended into heaven until the day of Pentecost, the apostles were in the upper room, remaining in prayer as Jesus had told them to do, and surely for those few days, they remembered his final prayer to His Father: “Father, you and I are one, and I pray that those who love me and keep my word will also be one with you. The glory that you have given me I have given them, and when the time comes, they will receive our glory in heaven.”

Like the apostles in that upper room, we wait for the Holy Spirit. Oh, we already have received that Spirit in Baptism, but the grace of that Spirit comes to us in many ways throughout our lifetime. So be watchful; be expectant. The Holy Spirit of God wants to enter your heart in a special way. Pentecost Sunday awaits. So come…open your heart and hands to this amazing gift. Come, Holy Spirit! Come like the fire and burn! Come like the wind and cleanse!