Risen to Renew — Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2012 (Eighth Week of “Ordinary Time”)

At Mass, always read the Responsorial verse first: it gives a key to the readings. It tells us what the bishops saw in the first reading that made them choose it as a “match” for the Gospel.

For Pentecost Sunday it is: Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. The theme of the Mass readings is renewal — the confidence of hope based on faith that God is transforming society, correcting cultural assumptions, reforming social structures. Establishing the reign of God on earth.

But he is doing it through us — Christ’s risen body, empowered by the Holy Spirit poured out into every Christian heart. If we are “renewing the face of the earth,” it is because we are in touch with the Spirit in us. If we are not changing anything, we need to establish contact with the Holy Spirit. How do we do that?

The first step, as always, is just to believe. Believe Jesus was speaking to every baptized person when he said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you... Receive the Holy Spirit.” We need to believe in, accept, and dedicate ourselves to our mission.

Our mission is determined by where we are. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues.” And people “gathered together from every nation under heaven... all heard them speaking in their own language.” That is the key to the “lay apostolate.” The laity are everywhere; in every event of family and social life; in every business and occupation. And whatever they are a part of, they can “speak the language” of those who are there. But only if they are “filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Paul’s letter says all of us have the Spirit, but in different, particular ways: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; different forms of service... But to each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” We just have to identify our gifts, the way the Spirit can act through us. Act where we are through what we are, both by nature and by grace.

How can we know how God wants to use us?

The first step is obvious: We ask. Every morning, say the prayer:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

and enkindle in us the fire of your divine love.

Send forth your Spirit, Lord, and our hearts will be regenerated.

And you will renew the face of the earth!

Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you instruct the hearts of your faithful. Grant us by the same Holy Spirit always to do what is right and just, and always to rejoice in his consolations, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus promised: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” Throughout the day, pay attention to your feelings. The Spirit usually speaks by increasing or diminishing our peace.

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