By Msgr. Joseph Prior • Posted May 17, 2024

“They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint,” (Isaiah 40:31) the prophet Isaiah proclaims. The words convey a picture of vivacity, strength, energy and life flowing from the Lord. Isaiah uses the image of an eagle. It is amazing to watch an eagle fly.

One account I recently read speaks of the eagle, and other birds, using the thermals “which are columns of air formed as heat rises from the ground. Because heat rises, these air columns push up and up, displacing the cold air around them.”

As the eagle catches these thermals, they soar rising higher and higher. Though it takes a lot of effort to get off the ground or from a tree branch or perch flapping their wings once the bird catches the thermal they soar without much effort, they just fly.

The image is an apt one to call to mind today as we celebrate Pentecost. The Solemnity recalls the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the birth of the Church.

The first reading from Acts of the Apostles recalls the event. The strong driving wind comes from the sky and fills the “entire house” in which the disciples were gathered. The wind may remind us of the breath of God carrying the words of creation – “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3) Or God breathing into Adam giving him life. (Genesis 2:7) The wind, unseen but clearly felt, carries the Spirit, invisible but clearly present, into the communion of disciples on that day of Pentecost.

Tongues of fire then appear over their heads. The fire may recall the image of God’s presence at the foot of Mount Sinai in the bush which was aflame but not burnt. (Exodus 3:2) We may recall John the Baptist speaking of Jesus as the one coming after him who will baptize with “the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16) The tongues along with the speaking in many languages may recall the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Man wanted to be gods and thought they could make themselves gods. So they built a tower to ascend to the heavens.

Their fruitless venture resulted in man being scattered to different lands with different languages. They could not make themselves divine, nor could they unite themselves as one. Now the opposite happens but not through man’s making or doing, but by God’s saving activity.

The Spirit represented by the tongues of fire unite the apostles and disciples of Jesus into one communion. The speak one Word but many hear in their own tongue. As Saint Luke recalls, “the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” (Acts 2:4)

Jesus, in the Gospel account from the Fourth Gospel, on rising from the dead and greeting the disciples with His word of “peace” breaths on them and offers the gift of the Holy Spirit which brings the power to forgive. That forgiveness is necessary for the unity of communion to be maintained and for peace to be strengthened among the disciples. The communion, which is the Church, is established by Christ and grows with the outpouring of the Spirit. Saint Paul in his Frist Letter to the Corinthians speaks of the communion in these terms:

As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:12-14)

We have been hearing all Easter Season from Acts of the Apostles in the first readings at Mass. The readings recall the incredible growth of the Church. Many peoples from all parts of the world are welcomed into the saving life of Christ and the communion of the Church. All this happens post-Pentecost and manifests the power of the Spirit working among the disciples. Jesus’ saving mission continues in all lands and all times.

The gifts of the spirit to the members of the Church, you and me, are abundant and vary according to person and need. The gifts given to the individual are for the service and benefit of all so that the communion may be strengthened for growth and abundant in fruit. Saint Paul, in his Letter to the Galatians, identifies the fruit as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Our celebration of Pentecost provides an opportunity for us not only to remember that first Pentecost but to pray for an outpouring of the Spirit now in our own day, time and place, as we continue to the mission of Christ.

We pray that our hearts will be open to receive the Spirit, to proclaim the saving Word, to strengthen the bonds of communion we share and to invite others to share in this life of love.

In receiving the Spirit, we like those first disciples, and in the words of Isaiah, “will renew their strength, will soar on eagles’ wings; will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.”

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