Sunday, May 19, 2024

Pentecost Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost. It is on Pentecost that we call to mind the apostles receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit which sent them forth to spread the message of the Gospel throughout the whole world.


From the Gospel of Saint Luke we are told, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him.”


These words present the Holy Spirit to us as an being an advocate. This word “advocate” comes to us from the Latin word “advocatus” which means “called upon.” During the Middle Ages it was an advocatus who was the representative of the ruler to perform certain responsibilities which had been entrusted to him.


The Holy Spirit is an important advocate for us. Through the Holy Spirit the Lord remains with us until the end of time. It is the Holy Spirit who enhances our relationship with God and makes it possible to allow God to dwell within our heart.


The Holy Spirit serves as an advocate for the Holy Spirit is constantly working for our good. The Holy Spirit desires that we come know truth and to open our heart unto it. For this reason the promptings of the Holy Spirit are very important for us. They tug at us and move our heart onto God.


Through the Holy Spirit we allow all wounds to be healed, bad habits to be conquered, sins to diminish. The Holy Spirit is our advocate in the midst of all that we are called to endure in this life. Like the apostles we are not sent forth to encounter them alone, but with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.


For this reason we can and should allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our life of faith. The question is not what we will do, but what God does for us. It was the Holy Spirit who was found at work in the apostles and they accomplished great things in the most difficult of times. Likewise, if we entrust ourself to the Holy Spirit we can accomplish great things in God’s Name even in these most difficult of times. Let us not impede this advocate, but allow Him to be found at work within us.


Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

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