John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
26 ”When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27 You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. 4 I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
"Take not your Holy Spirit from me."
The promise that the Risen Christ made to the disciples is fulfilled on this Pentecost Sunday. Who is this Holy Spirit? Many tried to help Councils and Church doctors help us to understand with our human intellect. What is beyond human understanding, though, can't be believed except "with eyes of faith." Jesus gives us the grace to believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person in the Holy Trinity; the One true trinitarian God.
Today the Gospel invites us to remember where the Holy Spirit appears in Scriptures since the beginning of creation---through the prophets, the Annunciation, the Baptism, the Temptations, and in Jesus' promise on this day known as "the Birthday of the Church."
Now there is no more fear but courage, no more preference of one nation over another, no more exclusive language to understand. Just pray and glorify God, any language will do (Acts 2:11)! The only way is to accept Jesus as the Son of God, our Redeemer and Saviour.
The Holy Spirit descended as flames of fire and wind (Acts 2:1-4). The fire teaches us how much we need to purify our hearts and minds. This will help us see God's true nature. The wind is to spread this purity all around so that everyone and everything are purified and renewed by the presence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Oh, come Holy Spirit, renew the face of the earth and, thanks to your presence, we renew our baptismal vows and remain your Temples.
Let us pray for every baptized faithful and for the whole Church to be a vivid witness for Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We pray for the Church to proclaim God's Kingdom without fear, distortion or hesitation.
May we remain keenly attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, abiding within God's love and righteousness in both our words and deeds.
Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One True God, Amen!