CONSUMED BY FIRE

While walking along the corridors of our school, I observed one of the doors had a hole near the doorknob. It seemed someone forced himself through the room. When I asked the students in the room regarding the hole, my suspicion was confirmed. For some reason, a naughty student locked the door which prevented his classmate from entering. Their classmate punched the door so that he may be able to unlock the door and enter the room. And that explains the hole on the door.

The locked doors in the cenacle have no holes on them through which the Holy Spirit entered. They were opened by the power of the Holy Spirit in the form of wind, and appeared before the apostles in tongues of fire. Instead of destruction, the Holy Spirit brought forth recreation to the hearts of the apostles who had been prayerfully waiting for the promised Paraclete. The Holy Spirit widely opened the doors of the cenacles to bring breath of new air, courage to preach the mighty works of God. This is how the Church began: with open doors of the room of fear and discouragements so that the apostles may go out and fulfill Jesus’ command; doors opened by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit strengthens the Church as a gathered people that they may be able to open those doors and draw people to Jesus; to form a larger community.

In the Jewish tradition, Pentecost is a harvest time; a sealing of the Mosaic covenant when the Promised Land bore the copious fruits of the land. And so it is in the Catholic tradition, when the apostles began to harvest the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and harvest too, converts to Christianity; the fruits of Jesus' message. About 3,000 were baptized after Peter’s preaching during that day (cf. Acts 2:13-41).

                                                                    

How was that possible? It was made possible through the Fire of the Holy Spirit that descended upon them. The Holy Spirit brought with it FIRE. This is manifested in the red vestments the priest wears during the Pentecost Sunday. Along with this fire is the fulfillment, identity, renewal, and empowerment.

Fulfilment of Christ's promise to send the Paraclete. Pentecost marks the end of Easter Season. This season culminates with the fulfillment of Christ to send the power from on high that would enable the apostles to fulfill His commandments. It is a new beginning of being a Church.  

Identity as children of God belonging to a community. This identity is given to us when we were baptized and confirmed, when we have received the Holy spirit; when we have become the temples of the Holy Spirit. Knowing their identity as followers of Christ and as children of God, the apostles attained a degree of confidence to preach about the good news they have received from Jesus, and now understood through the Holy Spirit. An intimate communion with Father had been established between man and God through Jesus confirmed by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3B-7, 12-13). The communion in the Church is possible through the peace brought by the Holy Spirit; that is harmony and order in the midst of difference; communion with different people; communion with creation etc. Thus, the Holy Spirit is sometimes symbolized by a dove, for it brings peace to us.

Renewal as mission entrusted to us, to renew the world to be configured with Christ. This is to be one with Jesus' mission. The Holy Spirit makes us burn with the love of Jesus for others. In nature, fire refines iron by destroying the weaknesses and blemishes in it. Through our purified selves, the Holy Spirit breathes in us a new life, making us new again. As we receive the Holy Spirit, we are never the same again, for we have been transformed by its power.  

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we need not be afraid and instead be courageous in being Catholics. The fear was banished from the hearts of the apostles. They were able to speak in various languages, uniting the different people to hear the proclamation of the mighty acts of God. Such is the beginning of the Church through the unifying power of the Holy Spirit to form a community. With walls of divisions and difference collapsed by the Holy Spirit, the different people were united. Another image of the Holy Spirit is air. You do not see it but you know it is there as we breath it. When people are depressed or anxious, they are advised to take a deep breath. As fresh air flows in their body, they will begin to calm themselves. When afraid or discouraged to accomplish our vocation as Christians, we are encouraged to take a deep breath of the Holy Spirit.  

Be possessed by the Holy Spirit and not by other spirits; be consumed by its fire, and be prepared to be children of God, and be strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

Are the doors of our hearts widely opened to the promptings of the Holy Spirit; to receive its fire, to breath in the air that brings forth renewal?