Take A Cue

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:1-11)

Today is Pentecost when we speak of noise, wind, fire, and the Holy Spirit.   This passage greatly contrasts with our Gospel in that the first reading has the Holy Spirit appear and fill everyone in a rather wild, chaotic, and perhaps frightening manner.  The Gospel is quite different with its focus on peace and quiet breath.  It reads:

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:19-23)

One interpretation is that when we forgive, we receive the Holy Spirit, and there is peace.   Anger and the chaos that go with holding a grudge and being vindictive vanish.  There is peace with reconciliation.

As noted in the second reading (1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13), we were all baptized into one body.  Therefore, it makes little sense for us to be angry with one another.  In our deeply divided and partisan nation with November being five months away, anger and resentment appear to reign and ravage our one body rivaling the worse effects of the coronavirus.

Unfortunately, elections create tongues of fire that drive out the Holy Spirit.   If only all sides would take a cue from the Spirit and say to each other: Peace be with you.

Deacon David Pierce