Religious Education

Filled with the Spirit

A major theme of the Scripture readings is ‘One in the Holy Spirit’.

All of today’s readings speak about the Spirit of Jesus gifting his disciples with the talents and powers for going forth with courage to proclaim the Good News.

The first reading, from Acts, describes the events of Pentecost, in which the Holy Spirit comes upon the Apostles in wind and fire. When they are filled with the Holy Spirit, they begin to speak in languages they never knew before. The assembled crowd is astonished. Though many of the crowd are foreigners, they understand that the disciples are speaking about the wonders of God. God has reversed the Tower of Babel. Rather than being confused by the different languages, the people can understand them.

Psalm 103 is a hymn of praise to God, who sends forth the Spirit to renew the face of the whole earth.

The second reading is a reminder that the Spirit bestows gifts for proclaiming the Good News on everyone, but not everyone has the same kinds of gifts. The gifts of the Spirit are public gifts, not private ones. And when people use them to complement the gifts of others, the community forms the one Body of Christ in which the Spirit is alive.

The early Christians probably argued about whose gifts were the most important. As one Body in Christ, divisions such as race, age or nationality lose all meaning. The image of the body was chosen to highlight that the community is not a static, unmoving group. A living body grows and moves and changes; so, too, does the church community if it is to stay alive.

Today’s reading from the Gospel of John is Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit. The disciples are hiding out, scared and defeated. Jesus comes to them and breathes new life into them – the breath of the Spirit. With the gift of the Spirit comes the gift of peace and a mandate to go out and forgive the sins of others.