Pentecost

Today, Christ fulfills His promise to send the Holy Spirit (Jn. 15:26, 16:7) to His circle of friends who composed the early Church. Their eyes have been opened as the Holy Spirit has made things plain for them to understand the events that had to come to pass as part of God’s plan of salvation. They have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak the truth and continue the task of spreading the Kingdom of God throughout the world.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI comments on the worldwide scope of the work and composition of the Church, “The Church is the image of the Holy Spirit just as Christ is the image of God and humanity, that is why it cannot be the property of a group, a national church, or identified with a single race or class… it is catholic.”

Certainly, as in the past, the Church is faced with challenges and always seems to be breaking apart. However, we should be filled with hope and security as Christ is the cornerstone of the Church. This assurance is further reinforced or made evident when the enemies of the Church discovered the bitterness of their experience.

The Holy Spirit who unites and sanctifies God’s people will continue to help us in our journey to sanctification, and opens our eyes to the beauty and grandeur of the Church in these modern times, confident that the Lord will never leave us orphans.