Photo by Sunguk Kim on Unsplash
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.” Jesus spoke these words to his disciples in the upper room at the meal they shared the night before he entered his passion. Telling them they weren’t ready was like breaking the news to children about some trust fund they wouldn’t be eligible for until some future date. They didn’t hear it, at least, not as it was intended. Their minds were still reeling from being told he was leaving them soon to go somewhere they couldn’t follow. But when the day of Pentecost arrived in a wondrous spectacle of strong driving wind that filled the house and blazing tongues of fire, the Advocate Jesus spoke of, the Spirit of Truth, came to rest upon the disciples causing them to proclaim God’s mighty acts in many different and unfamiliar tongues.
We more often seek the presence of God in calm, quiet, and peaceful solitude probably because the prophet Elijah[1] encountered God not in the earthquake, the wind, or the fire, but in a soft gentle breeze. So we prefer a break from the turmoil and chaos of our lives by retreating to our corner in noise-cancelling headphones or stealing away to the Caribbean or the International Space Station. Some would jump at the chance. But like ourselves when we run from chaos, Elijah was fleeing persecution and danger. And yet when the Spirit of God came in driving wind and blazing fire, decisively casting the calm and quiet out the window along with the paralyzing fear and crushing grief that hung over Jesus’ disciples, they felt no need to flee from the ensuing chaos. This was chaos they welcomed and embraced, the chaos of God’s Spirit, giving them courage and confidence to proclaim the mighty acts of God in different and unfamiliar languages.
Now we hear the word “languages,” which when translated more closely reflects the word for “tongue” and our imagination sends us to the spoken word. But Jesus told his disciples the Spirit of Truth would guide them into all truth because they could not bear it all then. And the Holy Spirit has not been idle. We have since discovered and acknowledged that some people speak more confidently and eloquently other languages as well, intricate hand gestures, and earth-shattering rock music, and unfamiliar unconventional art and culture, and warm acceptance and affirming inclusion. But we have also discovered and acknowledged the dark and disturbing languages of physical illness, disability, and debilitating anxiety, of schoolyard intimidation and shameless exclusion spoken just as confidently and eloquently. But in the Acts of the Apostles, the Spirit of God brought the chaos of driving wind and blazing fire for the express purpose of proclaiming in different and unfamiliar languages the mighty acts of God.
When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, they immediately began to speak of the mighty acts of God. Those who witnessed this outpouring of the Spirit didn’t all react the same. Some were amazed or unmoved or confused. And some accused them of public drunkenness. But the disciples were unfazed. They knew to proclaim with joy and conviction God’s mercy and love. It is still the church’s primary task although we have gotten sidetracked now and again, preferring instead to focus on rejecting, condemning, excluding, and resenting.
It is not news that we live in troubled times. The longer we live, it seems more trouble awaits us disguised as charming talking serpents and scary clowns lurking in sewer drains. Many times older people have expressed fear for younger people who must face these challenges growing up. They will proudly claim the worst trouble they ever had to deal with in high school involved coping an attitude and chewing gum and smoking in the bathroom and in-school suspension. Compared to that, young people today contend with mental health issues, gun violence, cyberbullying, and partisan politics along with some updated and equally intense racism, peer pressure, and gender and identity confusion. Luckily, they have not known the times their parents and grandparents lived in. So they are not as fearful or cynical. Rather they are eager to have their cake and eat it too because they are constantly told the world is their oyster.
The community of Jesus’ disciples were caught in a world of turmoil and chaos, of paralyzing fear and crushing grief. So they huddled with familiar faces in the comfort of a familiar place hidden from the darkness and danger outside. They probably would have stayed there indefinitely. But God had other plans, plans for them to continue the mission of Jesus. When John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus early in his ministry to inquire whether he was the One who was to come or should they wait for another, Jesus, not prone to give a straight answer but expecting his listeners to make up their own minds sent this word, “Tell John, ‘The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.’”[2] He could have just said yes.
St. Paul reminded the Church in Galatia that the works of the flesh differ greatly from the fruits of the Spirit. He didn’t need to explain that human endeavors might generate some measure of turmoil and chaos. Every generation will say they live in troubled times. And trouble easily followed Jesus wherever he went, and just as well his disciples after him, and we say as much who claim to follow the Spirit’s lead. But the telltale sign is whether or not that ensuing turmoil and chaos is of God’s Spirit. In recent times, prominent figures in religious and civic discourse have been making noise with their voices and antics always quite intentionally and unapologetically meaning to shake our faith in God and our peace of mind. They assume on their own the absolute and unquestioned authority of God because theirs is the only legitimate interpretation of scripture and the church’s tradition. They offer no room for dialogue or discernment, and instead they rejoice in inciting hatred, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, and factions. Why do we more eagerly listen to them? Turmoil and chaos clearly follow in their wake. But are they sent by the Spirit of God?
“In contrast,” St. Paul tells us, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” And we have not received the gift of God’s Spirit in vain, so it will show in how we proclaim the mighty acts of God. It will show in our manner of life, in how we welcome one another, how we support and nurture the vulnerable and the young, how we extend compassion and the peace of Christ, how we reach out to one another in kindness, healing, and reconciliation. If we know who we are and what we are about, we can be more intentional about proclaiming the mighty acts of God with genuine joy and conviction. God’s Spirit lives on and the challenge of Pentecost endures. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.”
Rolo B Castillo © 2024
__________
[1] 1 Kings 19: 11—13.
[2] Matthew 11: 5
middlechildcatholicpriest 