Feast of Pentecost

 If last Sunday was the "what" of the Christian vocation: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." (Mtt 28: 19) then today's feast gives us the "how": "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Cor 12: 7) The First Reading relates how the Holy Spirit descends on the community which is praying together, lead by the apostles, and strengthened by Our Lady. Thus, collectively, and individually they receive charisms and gifts represented by their ability to speak other languages: "... as the Spirit gave them ability." (Acts 2: 4) The purpose of these gifts is oriented towards the forgiveness of sins which is the fruit of the resurrection: " 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them...'" (Jn 20: 23) The result is a multitude of gifts, services and activities that are bestowed by the one Spirit that also unites the community for the one mission: "... but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone." (1 Cor 12: 6) Regardless of how impressive a gift or charism may seem to be, if its use leads to division and fragmentation in the Church it is, by definition, not of the Holy Spirit. Let us be mindful of this as we go about our mission as missionary disciples in 2023: "I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all." (Eph 4: 1-6)