Homily for the Vigil Mass of Pentecost

The Old Testament readings we heard each point to some aspect of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 

 The reading which began our vigil tonight is the story of the Tower of Babel in which people are divided and their languages confused.  When the disciples receive the Holy Spirit and preach the Good News their hearers each hear them in their own language.  The division of the human race is overcome through the action of the Spirit and all share in the one Good News and in the new life of Christ. 

 The second reading also reminds us of the Pentecost story.  In Exodus God appears to the people of Israel in the form of fire.  At Pentecost the Spirit descends on the disciples in the form of tongues of fire. 

 In the vision of the dry bones in Ezekiel the breath breathes on the dry bones and they come to life.  The word for breath and wind in the scriptures is the same as the word for Spirit.  The Spirit comes to the disciples at Pentecost like a powerful wind and in John’s version Jesus breathes on the disciples and says receive the Holy Spirit. 

 The prophet Joel talks about God pouring out his spirit on all mankind. 

 As we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit tonight we celebrate the Spirit which breaks down the divisions between peoples, the Spirit that reveals the nature of God to us, that gives life and inspires us to “prophecy and dream dreams” in our proclamation of the Gospel and the vision of a world united in Christ which we bring to the world through the action of the Spirit within us. 

 The idea that we share the mission of the first apostles to share the Good News can be daunting, we like them can want to shut ourselves away.  However, tonight we celebrate that Spirit whom Paul tells us comes to help us in our weakness, who expresses our prayer in a way which can never be put into words. 

 The message which the Spirit inspires us to proclaim is a message of hope.  It a message the world needs especially at this moment.  Hope at a time when divisions between peoples are being actively promoted.  Hope at this time of the coronavirus where creation can seem hostile, when our prayers may seem fruitless.  Against this Paul sees us as one with creation in coming to a new life, a new life brought about by the Spirit.  That new life of the Spirit Jesus talks about in the Gospel when he talks about himself as the source of the water of life.   

 The Spirit is at work even when we may not see it, when we may be tempted to be discouraged.  Tonight, as we begin the celebration of Pentecost, so we ask the Holy Spirit to come on us anew as he came on the disciples.  To come on us to enable us to be that source of hope for the world, to work in us so we can play our part in bring creation to its fulfilment, to work in us so that we can share the message that all people are united in Christ, to work in us so that we can offer people the hope of the new life Christ brings.  Come Holy Spirit. 

Fr Chris Pedley SJ