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?

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN COURTSHIP

Have you courted anyone? Courting is an expression of love. When a man courts a lady, he manifests his love and desire for the lady. He does his best just to win the heart of his beloved. In the Philippines, that entails pleasing not only the muse of your heart but also her family. We do paninilbihan (to render service) to the household of our beloved, just so we may prove that we are worthy of the trust and love of their daughter.

A man always puts his best foot forward as he courts someone, until she says yes and his love will be complete. The man and the woman, totally in love with each other, will be ready to leave everything behind just to be with their loved one. In love, they will never exchange the moments they spend with one another with anything else in the world. They will marry each other (lalagay na sa tahimik) and become one. The wife will bear a child; will bear the fruit of their love. They will be at peace with each other, that is if the love they expressed during their courtship is genuine. I remember my mother and father's story. He courted her for five years. During those five years, his voice was so gentle as they conversed that it can be likened to a baby. But after their marriage, even our neighbor can hear the voice of my father as he rants to my mother the daily chores of family life. In God's grace, they are still married for forty-one years with six children and with eight lovely grandchildren. Their love even bore a son-priest. Truly, God is gracious to those who strive to love like Him; to those who aspire for peace in the midst of their differences.  

The first Christian community experience peace and understanding, even the love of God, through the willingness to listen and be led by the Holy Spirit. The situations of Jewish and Gentile converts confronted them: should the latter observe the customs of the former? Should the Gentiles be circumcised too like the Jews? Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they recognized what may appear to be a mere burden to new followers of Jesus and what is essential and important in following Jesus: the circumcision of their hearts.  God decided for their problems through the Holy Spirit who inspired the community’s decision-making. There was peace among them, not because of their uniformity but through their oneness towards one goal: in praising and loving God. This is the essential made realized by the Holy Spirit. This is what enabled the apostles to be at peace (cf. Acts 15:1-2, 22-29). Truly, the Holy Spirit enlightens us. In times of problems and confusions, It can guide us towards the right decisions; towards peace and realization of God's love for us made manifest in our obedience to His commandment of love.

John too was led by the Holy Spirit to the peace experienced in the Kingdom of God; a peace through the Lamb of God.  God alone can enlighten us in the midst of darkness; of the things, we may not understand. When worried, harassed, or persecuted like John, God comes to us through the Holy Spirit to assure us with His love; to bring peace to our disturbed souls (Rev 21:10-14, 22-23). Indeed, in times of persecutions and hatred, the Holy Spirit encourages us and inspires us (as John was strengthened by the Spirit who led him to a vision of heaven), to aspire and embrace the peace God offers to us.

We feel troubled whenever a loved one departs. When the one who gives us security leaves, we become anxious. This is how, probably, the apostles felt, as Jesus was about to depart from them. But Jesus says: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. In times of forgetfulness, dryness, or being overwhelmed by the realities of life, the Spirit makes us remember, discover, and understand the will of the Father for us, the teachings of the Son to us, the essentials of our faith in God, the most important thing in life: the Love of God for us. That causes peace to our mind and soul. One indicator of this is the fact that you can sleep well.  Do you sleep well? People who are truly in love can sleep well for they are at peace with their beloved, they are assured by the love of their beloved. 

God dwells to those who love Him. But truth be told, even before we love God, it is God who loves us first. Thus, it is God who moves us towards Him. It is God who draws us closer to Him to dwell in Him that in return He may dwell in us. God courts us. He tries to convince us of the authenticity of the love He offers to us. Nililigawan tayo ng Diyos. And the Holy Spirit helps us be convinced about the love God has for us. And when one realizes the magnanimity of His love, one is ready to leave everything behind for the one who loves him or her.

God loves us and he will remain in us. Thus, we have no reason to be afraid, anxious or disturbed. His love appeases us. Kaya walang dahilan upang mangamba o maghanap ng ibang magmamahal sa atin. Kapayapaan ang dala nito; dala ng pangako ni Hesus ng Espirutu Santo; dala ng pagmamahal ni Hesus. Pumayapa tayo batid na may nagmamahal at tumutulong sa atin. The love of God brought to us by the Holy Spirit brings forth peace; a peace different from the world’s notion which is synonymous with threats, silencing and absence of difference. The genuine peace which comes from God brings calmness in the midst of differences and troubles, unity amongst us despite the varying opinions we may have.

Mananatili rin kaya tayo sa kanyang presensiya?

Mamahalin din kaya natin ang Diyos?

TOO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND?

Have you understood anything in the readings we heard? It was from the Gospel of St. John, which is notorious for using complicated structures and words in presenting the good news. It is okay to admit we did not understand it. Even one of the disciples, named Judas (not the Iscariot) asks for a clarificatory question.    

A lot of things may be too difficult for us to understand. It may lead us to further trouble should we not admit it.

I remember one of our brothers who is fond of cooking and baking. He prepares cakes and other desserts for our community back in the formation house. One day, we asked him if he knows how to make a Cathedral Window Gelatin. Perhaps wanting to impress, he said "Yes." "Then make one for us" we replied. He spent his whole siesta time figuring out how to prepare the dessert. After our community outdoor recreation, everyone was excited about our snack. We would have something new for our palate. We would have a Cathedral Window Gelatin. We all proceeded to the refectory and to our amazement; we saw a jar on the table. We asked our chef-wannabe brother where the gelatin was. And he told us: The milk gelatin did not settle firmly. And so I made it into sago't gulaman. We end up drinking our Cathedral Window Gelatin. If only he said "no" and admitted he did know, others could have assisted him.

In the Acts of the Apostles (14:5-18), the people of Lystra did not understand how Paul and Barnabas healed the crippled man. They thought the gods have come down to them in human form. They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes." And Paul instructed them of their being human just like them, and the existence of the Living God. Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. These people knew not how to say no, neither to admit they need enlightenment. How can we expect them then to walk towards the light; towards the true faith?

We must not fall into the temptation of forcing ourselves to understand the things we may not fully grasp. We might end up falsely attributing God's works in our life to our own credit or worse, to other gods we have made for our own. Learn to say no if you do not really know. Admission of ignorance can be the beginning of knowledge.

The good news is, Christ promised that He would send the Advocate who will teach us everything and remind us of all the things He told us. Thus, pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we may be enlightened by God to understand His will; that our hearts may be filled, and the fire of God's love may be kindled in us, and we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations.