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The redemptive work of Christ was not complete until the new outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus had spoken of this promised gift very directly and intentionally toward the end of his earthly journey. For instance, Jesus proclaims, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (Jn 16:7). Jesus is quite clear that his impending departure is a critical part of the Father’s plan. After the Ascension, the Father and the Son will bestow the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit upon his followers.

Jesus promises a new source of great strength. At the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, Our Lord states, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The Holy Spirit is the critical gift of God that enters our heart and soul and enables us to have faith in Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior. Our second reading is bold and clear: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” As we celebrate Pentecost with the universal church, let’s beg God to stir into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit and set our hearts on fire with a burning love for Jesus Christ and a growing faith in him.

The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, is also a profound agent of unity. The immediate result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles is that the people gathered in Jerusalem from all parts of the known world hear the apostles, those simple men from Galilee, speaking in their own languages. The large crowd is confused by this reality and astounded: “How does each of us hear them in his native language?”

This manifestation of the Spirit is a clear reference to the story of the tower of Babel in Genesis, which suggests that the divisions and many languages among mankind were the result of God’s deep sadness over their pride. Their motivation for building the tower was clear: “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves.” (Gn 11:4) Jesus came to confront our pride, forgive our sins, repair our relationship with the Father and restore unity to mankind.

The Holy Spirit is also a generous source of spiritual gifts. He pours out particular graces upon individual Christians, which enable the faith to blossom in their hearts and to spread to the farthest ends of the earth.

These spiritual gifts are not offered to individuals for their own personal advantage, but rather completely for the benefit of others. These gifts coming from the Holy Spirit vary greatly in their purpose and effects, but they are always to be exercised for the good of others: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” (1 Cor 12:4-7) We cannot overstate the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of individuals and the church. Today’s celebration is a most important and fitting conclusion to the Easter season.

Let us pray: “O God, by the mystery of today’s great feast sanctify your whole church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.”