Happy Birthday! (Pentecost)

It is often said that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church.  But why is this?

First, let us look at the purpose of the Church, if we may speak in those terms.  We can identify three reasons why the Church exists.  Each is distinct but intimately connected.  Each is clearly visible when the Church as a whole, or a local parish community, is healthy and balanced.  Each nurtures the other two and, together, they build up the Christian community. 

They are: the exaltation of God, the edification of the saints, and the evangelisation of the world.  In other words: to praise God, to increase the holiness of its members, and to spread the Good News to others.  These three are the signs of a living, Spirit-led Church or parish community.

Looking back on my youth, there seemed to be a culture of ‘franchising out’ our evangelical responsibilities.  We raised money for the missions, in much the same way that we raised money for charities.  But I recall no emphasis that, in our own lives, we were called to be evangelical.  Not by standing on street corners proclaiming the Gospel, but by consciously drawing people to God through our own day to day living of the Christian life.  Others should see the radiance of our faith and the goodness of God in all that we do.

Ten days ago, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus.  We heard how Jesus, following his Resurrection, taught the apostles about the Kingdom of God, instructed them to go out to the world and be witnesses to him, and promised to send them his Spirit who would speak God’s Word through them.

And it was on the day of Pentecost, filled with the Holy Spirit, that the apostles started to preach and teach the Good News – the Church was born.  Their testimony was so powerful that 3,000 were baptised that day!

Let's ask ourselves how many people have been brought to God by allowing his Spirit to speak through our lives.