In his homily at Pentecost Mass, Pope Francis invited all Christians to sit in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and walk hand in hand within the Church, open to the world.
(Vatican News Network)Pentecost commemorates the day when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, thus ending the liturgical year of the Church. The solemn Mass at St Peter’s Basilica on June 5 was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who replaced Pope Francis. The Pope came to the basilica to participate in the whole Mass and delivered a sermon from a wheelchair. In his homily, the Pope invited all the faithful to continue to listen to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. He stressed that the Holy Spirit will teach us where to start, show us the way to go, rekindle the fire of God’s love in our hearts and guide our journey.
The Gospel of the Mass of that day tells of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit to the disciples (cf. Jn 14:26). Jesus told his disciples: “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and he will remind you of everything I have said to you.” “The Holy Spirit makes us see everything with the eyes of Jesus, in a new way”. In the great journey of life, the Holy Spirit teaches us “where to start, the way to go and how to proceed”.
The Pope first said that the Holy Spirit points us to the starting point of spiritual life, which is what Jesus himself said: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Pope clarified: “There is no love. As our foundation, all the rest is in vain. Love does not come from our talents, but the grace of God.” “The Holy Spirit of Love pours love into our hearts. He makes us feel loved and teaches us How to love. He is the ‘engine’ of our spiritual life.”
The Pope explained that the Holy Spirit is God’s memory. He reminds us of everything Jesus said, constantly rekindling the fire of God’s love in our hearts. “When our sins are forgiven, when we are filled with his peace, freedom and comfort”, we feel the presence of God. When our lives seem to be filled with failure and disappointment, the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are children of God. “Even when you lose faith in yourself, God has faith in you,” the Pope emphasized.
The Pope went on to say that the Holy Spirit is the “comforter”. “He can change the searing and painful wounds in your heart”, teaching us to “don’t hold your grudge against all the people and situations that hurt us”, but let the Holy Spirit enter this memory to heal it. The Holy Spirit “gives order to our lives, teaches us to accept and forgive, to forgive ourselves, to reconcile with the past and to be able to start anew”.
Next, the Pope said, the Holy Spirit not only reminds us where to go, but also teaches us the path we take. To this end, the Pope referred to the content of the second reading of the Mass that day: those “who are guided by the Spirit of God” “do not follow the flesh, but the Spirit of God” (cf. Romans 8:4, 14).
“The Holy Spirit is at every crossroads in our lives, proposing to us the best way. It is therefore important to be able to distinguish his voice from the voice of evil,” the Pope explained: “The Holy Spirit never Will tell you that all is well on your life journey. No, He wants to correct you; He wants you to cry over your sins; He pushes you to change, to fight your falsehoods and inconsistencies, even if it takes Great effort, inner struggle and sacrifice.” Conversely, the evil god “always tempts you to do what you want and what pleases you. He makes you think you have the right to be whatever you want. Use your freedom. But as soon as you feel empty inside, he blames you and knocks you to the ground.”
“The Holy Spirit will never let you fall. Instead, He will hold your hand, comfort you, and encourage you constantly,” the Pope said. “It is at this very moment that the Holy Spirit guides us to Love: Love is not the imaginary world, the imaginary church, the imaginary religious order, but that which is transparent and simple in the sun.”
Then the Pope spoke of the third teaching of the Holy Spirit, pointing to the fact that the Holy Spirit teaches the Church how to proceed. The Pope explained: “The disciples hid in the dining room, and then the Holy Spirit came and pushed them out. Without the Holy Spirit, they were with their own people. Having received the Holy Spirit, they opened the door to everyone. “In every age, the Holy Spirit overturns our preconceptions and makes us realize his novelty. He keeps teaching the Church the importance of going out and the basic need to preach the Gospel,” said the Pope.
Thus, the Pope prayed that the Church would not become “a sheepfold fortified, but an open pasture, where all people can draw on the goodness of God”; prayed that the Church “become a home without walls, generous and hospitable. “. This is very different from the worldly spirit. The worldly spirit drives us “to focus on our own problems and interests, to be preoccupied with appearing superior and only concerned with the dogged self-defense of our nation or group”. “This is not the way of the Holy Spirit, who invites us to forget ourselves and open our hearts to all. In this way, He keeps the Church young. We need to remember this: it is the Holy Spirit, not us, that revitalizes the Church.”
Finally, the Pope said: “Let us sit in the school of the Holy Spirit and let him teach us everything. Let us ask him every day to remind us to always start from the eyes that God sees in us, and to do what we do by listening to his voice. Make a decision to walk hand in hand as a member of the Church, obeying Him, and opening doors to the world.”
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