6th Sunday of Easter

I find the sequence of events in the First Reading for this week interesting. The centurion is renowned for his good works and prayer. He is visited by an angel who instructs him to get in touch with St Peter. Peter in the meantime receives a vision which tells him that it is up to God to decide what is ritually clean and unclean. This makes sense to Peter only when the servants of the centurion arrive. Peter then visits the Gentile soldier and discovers him to be a man of faith. He proclaims to them the Good News and the Holy Spirit falls upon the Gentiles. Peter is amazed that the Holy Spirit has been "poured out" on the Gentiles just as it was with the Jews on Pentecost as had been foretold in prophecy (Acts 2: 17). The Gentiles are then baptized. In this way we see that there is a second Pentecost - of the Gentiles - just as we see the Christmas of the Gentiles when the Wise Men find the child Jesus. In this way we see how the Jews were prepared for the Incarnation by the Scriptures and they receive the Holy Spirit first. The Gentiles, prepared for the Good News by good works and prayer, also receive the Holy Spirit as they accept what has been preached to them and are opened to the Holy Spirit and the sacraments. As disciples of the Lord in 2018 we need to understand how the Holy Spirit prepares the way for our efforts to share the Good News and open up those he has chosen to receive the Holy Spirit. It is not us who have the power but it is the Word and the influence of the Holy Spirit. We should not look for any credit for our evangelizing efforts: "Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!' "