“Come Holy Spirit, let the fire fall.”

The inspiration of this prayer is the event that happened during the Pentecost. “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 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 2:1-4).

Pentecost for the Catholic Christians celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit is the power behind the spread of the Gospel to the ‘ends of the earth’ (1:8). It inspires (6:5) and chooses its agents (13:2), directs its progress (16:6), gives solutions to its problems (15:28). Its arrival is marked by wind and fire and its first achievement is to fill timid disciples with courage (Lk. 24:37, cf. Peter Edmonds, S.J., A Companion to the Sunday Missal ABC, page 169).

“Come Holy Spirit, let the fire fall!” Confronting the situations of the world and of the Church nowadays, such as, war and conflict, indifferences, injustices, dishonesty and anger that cause havoc in the life of individuals, we need the overflowing gifts of the Holy Spirit to inspire peoples to become counter-culture and promote the values of solidarity, communion, peace and truth. Just like what happened to the disciples of the Lord, they were chosen, inspired, directed and became agents of progress, renewal and transformation. The Holy Spirit encouraged the disciples to be passionate in proclaiming the Kingdom of God.

“Come Holy Spirit, let the fire fall!” This is also our prayer. We need the Holy Spirit to hover over us and transform us into the image of Jesus Christ for us to become instruments of the Kingdom where the love and mercy of God reign in the midst. (ERM)