At the heart of Pentecost is an encounter with the Holy Spirit, but we cannot forget about the apostles who made themselves present to receiving such a gift. It is important for us to join with them in placing emphasis upon the Holy Spirt in our own life and thus being made open to receiving such a wondrous gift.
Instead we often place emphasis upon ourself and our own talents instead of acknowledging our dependance upon God. Some have even lost sight of the importance of the Sacrament of Confirmation because they believe it to be an adult acceptance of the faith. Confirmation has nothing to do with making an adult acceptance of the faith, but it does place God central in our life as do all the sacraments.
Through Confirmation God is central for He sends forth grace upon the receiver. This grace is to receive the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thus inviting the Holy Spirit to enter into our life and to be placed at work within us. Nevertheless, we so often do not make ourself present to being receptive to such a gift. The apostles did not just walk into Pentecost and receive this gift, but rather they prepared themselves to receive such a gift. From the point of our Lord’s Ascension ten days ago they entered into prayer in order that they would be found open to such a gift.
We must take their example upon ourself for the gift of the Holy Spirit is most important, but we so often get distracted from the promptings of the Spirit. As our readings attest the Holy Spirt leads us towards an encounter with truth and unity. If we remain open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit we will be led towards an encounter with truth and will be preserved in the unity of our faith.
As the apostles entered into Pentecost through the use of prayer, so should we. Before we set down to study scripture or the faith we should invoke the Holy Spirit in order that we may be enlightened. In the Book of Acts we were instructed that the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles as “a strong driving wind” and so we cannot act as if our faith is a sluggish action. Rather, this “strong driving wind” shows that the faith is active and alive. Therefore, we must open our heart to hearing the many promptings of the Holy Spirt and respond to such promptings. If we are entrenched in sin we must seek out the Sacrament of Confession in order that we may better be able to hear and respond to the Holy Spirit.
