Pentecost Sunday 2022 Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons

Jun 5th, 2022

- - - - - Russian Icon of Pentecost - - - - - Wiki Commons

I am sure you realise that Christians have no real 'sacred' language? We might in our different churches have a preferred language for formal Liturgy, Old Church Slavonic, or Latin for example, but it is not any more useful as a conveyer of God's word than the vernacular language of a people.

To underscore this, at the inception of the Christian community at Pentecost, though we read that the Spirit descended on those gathered 'like tongues of fire', the unity of that first community was not found in a common tongue, the language of the Hebrew scriptures gave way to a variety of voices: 'And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim'.(Acts 1:4)

Instead our unity was discerned in that of a deeper language, that of our 'oneness' as different but essential members of Christ's Body; this brought into birth by the Spirit at baptism and chrismation/confirmation and through historical time, continually built up by this self same Spirit in our assembling for Eucharist, common acts of worship, in our private, intimate, prayer, our reading of Scripture and that love we show in looking after our neighbour.

Paul puts it like this : 'For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit'.(I Cor 13:13)

Why did I begin with that comment about not having a 'sacred' language in Christianity? Perhaps because of change, for at this juncture in history the Church is being challenged as never before! Our world is in fearful danger, and the worst excesses of destructive force have nothing to do with nature and everything to do with 'homo-sapiens'. We humans are responsible for so much inequality, despoliation of resources, warfare, annihilation of other species with as much right to live on this planet alongside us. I don't mean to be overly negative; but that first Pentecost was not only an outpouring of the Spirit, it was also an eruption of God's force into our lives so that we might act as part of Christ in it. If we read on from the alternative second reading of Paul to the Romans, he gives it to us unequivocally, the Spirit is about renewal of creation and we are the agents of that change! Listen carefully to what he says : 'for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God' (Rm 8:20-21). There it is, this world is now a place of sacredness because all of it is touched by Christ's resurrection and all is blessed and sustained by the Spirit who as the Byzantine liturgical prayer puts it so well, is 'present in all places and filling all things, the Treasury of blessings and Giver of life'.

If there are two things we can take from John's Gospel this day it is simply that the Christ gives us peace and asks us to help that peace pervade the whole of the earth and to open ourselves to receive the Spirit, but this will make demands on us. Firstly that we acknowledge we are, as Augustine points out, citizens of two places, the City here on Earth and the City of God, but that this need not cause us too much division, for the City of God, that Kingdom we talk so much about, is also present in the here and now through our membership of that leaven of the Spirit, the community of believers in the Church. Secondly to recognise that Covid has changed the world! Maybe you cannot see it, but it has and will continue to do so, already people are beginning to do and say things we might not have discussed before. New ways of worship are being explored by those who, not able to physically come to church have through the Pandemic discovered another form of church in the web, via zoom or what's app or video link. People are learning to share their understanding of scripture, insights into the spiritual life and its journey, to demand greater involvement for laypersons in the life of the institutional religious structures and no longer to think of clergy as particularly knowledgeable unless proven to be so, or a special caste apart. I believe Covid is also part of 'this' Pentecost, because it is helping to point us forward, not back, to see the Spirit at work in all things, not just what we are told is holy.

I have great hope because the barriers of an older order are coming down, whilst the ever present truth contained in our experience of Christ through the Spirit is bursting out around us in all places and things! Like those disciples our upper rooms of fear and insecurity are being opened up, we are being called to 'get out there' utilise and encourage each others variety of gifts and of our common vocations as a baptised 'Christ-bearer' and in His name, with the Spirit's help walk alongside those who need us in our world now. For creation has great need of us, as people of the Gospel, and as Christ's living body!

Lectio Divina

From Brother Roger of Taize: Extract from his unfinished last letter

'…To the extent that the Church is able to bring healing to our hearts by communicating forgiveness and compassion, it makes a fullness of communion with Christ more accessible.

When the Church is intent on loving and understanding the mystery of every human being, when tirelessly it listens, comforts and heals, it becomes what it is at its most luminous: the crystal-clear reflection of a communion.

Seeking reconciliation and peace involves a struggle within oneself. It does not mean taking the line of least resistance. Nothing lasting is created when things are too easy. The spirit of communion is not gullible. It causes the heart to become more encompassing; it is profound kindness; it does not listen to suspicions.

To be bearers of communion, will each of us walk forward in our lives on the road of trust and of a constantly renewed kind-heartedness?

On this road there will be failures at times. Then we need to remember that the source of peace and communion is in God. Instead of becoming discouraged, we shall call down his Holy Spirit upon our weaknesses.

And, our whole life long, the Holy Spirit will enable us to set out again and again, going from one beginning to another towards a future of peace'.

From Fr Matthew Kelty OCSO

Gethsemani Homilies

'…We are going to be electing a new abbot for this house in a month or two. It surely cannot be out of place to suggest that some concern over our own generic tendency to stick to what we are used to will need some deft handling. Hopefully, we shall elect an abbot even better than the one we had. We stiffen that hope with prayer. That hope being somewhat unrealistic, we pray that at least we get one as good as what we have had.

Yet one thing is certain. Whether he is better than what we had or as good or far worse, he will assuredly be different. And his being different will require some openness, some give in your stance, some limber in your muscle, if you are going to survive. Your commitment is going to have to go deeper than a mere comfortable content with what you are used to, a deep submission to God's will revealed in his providence.

Which, after all, is an application of faith common to all. Conformity to God's will is the key to happiness. Any generic inertia that resists change can lead us far astray, as it led the scribes to what is to be avoided at any cost. Better bend than break, better keep flowing rather than freeze. No skyscraper ever broke in the wind: they bend. No vowed life ever lasted without supple love. Amen

Prayer for Pentecost

Burning Wind,

who smashes the windows and doors

of our locked hearts and minds.

Ever-Changing Love

that embraces all without hesitation,

come now, come this day,

come to us at each and every moment.

Enter into our emptiness,

into our yearnings,

into our dreams,

and fashion us anew