Homily: Pentecost Sunday (B)
John 20:19-23
19 May 2024
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez
How many of us know Fr. Thomas Green? For those who may not know him, he is a well-loved and respected Jesuit priest who was a mentor to many priests like myself. He was my professor in two of the Spirituality courses I took at the Loyola School of Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University. I was also very lucky to have him as my spiritual director. I remember he shared with us what St. Ignatius taught about the discernment of spirits. St Ignatius believed that the soul is affected by a ‘good spirit’ and a ‘bad spirit’. It is said that various affections are at work within the human heart. These affections move us to do some things and to avoid others. Hence, St. Ignatius deemed it important for every believer to know how to recognise each spirit. “The aim is not to be pushed around by one’s temptations and worst inclinations but instead to be guided by one’s best qualities.” In this way, the discernment of spirits can help one grow not only in self-knowledge but also progress in the spiritual life.
On this Solemnity of Pentecost, we are reminded that the gift of the Holy Spirit has been given to all of us – the baptised, the confirmed… On this very special day, which we consider the Birthday of the Church, we are made to reflect more deeply on the workings of the Holy Spirit in our faith life. Unlike the Father and the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is revealed through us with various names: “The Comforter”, “The Advocate”, “The Spirit of Truth”. One name I particularly like referring to the Holy Spirit is “The Paraclete”. I have read that “the root meaning of the Greek word, “Paraclete,” is actually made up of the prefix: para- + kalein, or the verb kaleo, which means “to call.” The prefix para adds the sense of “being around, of being near, of being close by.” It roughly translates to “call together.” A commentary I read suggests that “The Paraclete” could very well be translated as “The Gatherer.” It is so apt because the workings of the Holy Spirit are to gather God’s children. We recall that before ascending back to the Father, Jesus promised His disciples that He would not just “leave” and abandon them. He assured them “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18) For the disciples and all those whom they have inspired to follow Jesus, the Spirit is to remain with them as “The Gatherer”, “The Unifier”, “The Reconciler”.
As Catholics, we believe that various kinds of spirits affect us only if we let them. Thus, when we are faced with tough situations in life, we have to be careful and we need to seek the guidance of none other than the Holy Spirit. When we are confused or at our weakest, other spirits may seek to influence us. It is not very difficult to gauge whether it is the “Evil One” whom we have allowed to control our decisions, choices, and actions in life. The “Evil One” will surely sow jealousy, selfishness, and insecurity to destroy the good relationships within a family, a community or a group. When there are conflicts and frictions among groups of people, bad spirits make manifest in people’s refusal to make compromises, to recognise one’s share of the blame, eventually allowing misunderstandings to fester, and inflict new wounds. This results to the loss of hope, joy, freedom and peace because persons in conflict feel some degree of anger and some desire to be unforgiving of the other. If we truly desire to follow Jesus or claim to be followers of Christ, we should not allow evil spirits to control our thoughts and actions.
On the other hand, when it is the Spirit of the Lord at work in our lives, we find ourselves striving to bring people together, uniting them, and reconciling the existing conflicts and division in the community. Cooperating with the Holy Spirit, thereby engenders hope, joy, and great peace. St. Paul says that another fruit of being re-created by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is harmony and interdependence within the members of the Body of Christ. In the Church there are no more distinctions, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free. (Pantay-pantay ang trato sa isa’t-isa. Lahat magkakaibigan at kapatid ang turingan.) There is patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Through, with and in this “Gatherer”, the world is renewed, the community is revitalised, and we come to know the mysterious yet all-pervasive peace of Christ.
On this Pentecost Sunday, let us look into our life experiences and see if, in our circles, we have become the sowers of discord and unrest. If this is us, perhaps it is time to correct ourselves. (Magulo na ang mundo kaya huwag na tayong dumagdag.) Let us always remember to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that in our families, among our friends, and in our community, “we will not be willing victims of “The Scatterer” – or worse, its unwitting agents.” May we always choose the Spirit of the One who gathers us all into one family of God!
Sunday Gospel Reflections 