Part of a Great Mosaic

Scripture Reflection for Pentecost Sunday (June 12, 2011)

Scripture Readings:
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104
1 Corinthian 12:3b-7, 12-13
John 20:19-23

Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. On this special day we remember when the Holy Spirit was given to Jesus’ disciples and the foundation of the Church. In the first reading, we hear about a dramatic scenario with a strong wind from the sky, tongues of fire and people speaking in different languages. In the Gospel of John instead, it is the Risen Lord who appears to the disciples and breathes the Holy Spirit on them. Be it through tongues of fire or the breath of the Risen Jesus, something must have happened among the disciples that changed them from a group of fearful, doubting and close-minded followers of Jesus to the great apostles who spread the good news with courage, wisdom and a supernatural strength.

Has it ever happened to you that after following Jesus for many years, trying to understand and live out his message, something unforeseen happens to you? Something that makes you doubt in everything? Something that makes you think that none of it was true? That everything was an utopian idea that didn’t lead anywhere? Maybe you thought your service project, the retreat that you prepared or the rally that you organized would make a difference and change your campus, your parish, your young adult group, if not the whole Church and the world? And then – everything seem to crumble. Things don’t turn out the way you thought they would and you get frustrated and discouraged. I think this is how the disciples must have felt after Jesus’ death and his ascension to heaven. Maybe they remembered that Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit, but they didn’t know what it meant and what to expect.

But then things change. The disciples realize that it is true: Jesus has not left them alone. They are not “orphans.” They experience the presence of the Holy Spirit who bestows them with abundant gifts, with wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of God. But the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is not limited to the first group of disciples in Jerusalem, is also given to the members of the local Church communities. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks about charismatic gifts that some members of the community have received. In 1 Cor 12:8-11, a passage that is left out of our second reading, he speaks about the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, mighty deeds, prophecy, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. In his letter he makes clear that to have the Spirit means in the first place to confess that “Jesus is Lord.” He goes on to explain that the gifts of the Spirit can have a variety of forms, but they all have to be used for the common good and lead to community.

This is the time of the year when here at the Catholics on Call office we read through the applications of many great young adults who want to discern with us and with each other what they are called to do with their lives and how they can best serve the Church. In one of the questions in the application we ask them how they envision using their gifts and skills in ministry. People usually describe the gifts the Lord has given them and how they would like to use them. Some of the gifts that are mentioned in our applications are: good people skills; empathy; communication skills; the ability to relate to people; a sense of solidarity with all people; awe and wonder for the Lord; the ability to care for people; organizational skills; the gift of teaching; the love of writing and many more.

Besides the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we receive in Baptism, God has given all of us skills, talents and passions. Maybe sometimes we are like the disciples before the event of Pentecost and we find it difficult to see our gifts and how to use them. Maybe we are also frustrated and discouraged because of previous experiences. We need the Holy Spirit to be able to see what God has given us. And we too are called to use our gifts to be witnesses of our faith, to serve the common good and to build the community. Paul uses the image of the body, but you could also see the Church as a big mosaic. Each of us is a little piece in this mosaic, some are bigger, some are smaller, some have one color, some have another. But we all are needed to make the mosaic complete. This is what Pentecost is: God is telling us through the Holy Spirit: “I need you!” – “I need you with the gifts and talents that I have given you and also with your failures and limitations. I know that you are not perfect, but if you don’t say “Yes”, the mosaic has a hole and can’t shine in all its beauty. And don’t be afraid. I will help you. I will be present in the Holy Spirit and show you the way – step by step.”

On this day of Pentecost, let’s celebrate the many gifts we have received in life. Let us give thanks to the Lord for the gift of faith and for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives who helps us and guides us to become more and more the person that God wants us to be.