Today is Pentacost Sunday, which Christian’s celebrate as the institution of the church through the Holy Spirit. In short, the Holy Spirit came upon the 12 apostles so they would be inspired and guided to evangelize about Jesus and His ministry. Jesus instructed them that they would go out and that calling is also passed onto us. I believe the difference for today is that we preach through our gifts, rather than directly preaching about God. While we can certainly do that, actions can speak louder than our words.
Before Jesus returned to heaven, He promised the disciples that God would be with them despite His leaving, in the form of the Holy Spirit. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) Jesus gave us His Spirit so that we would be guided and feel the Truth within us. We are blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit; “These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord” (Catechism) Further, the fruits are derived from these gifts; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Fruit is something that is produced as a result of preparation, labor, time, and effort but what is yielded provides sustenance, strength, and life.
So we can ask the Holy Spirit for grace and intercession, communicating with Him, even though the Spirit is already within us:
Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with Your holy gifts. Let my weakness be penetrated with Your strength this very day that I may fulfill all the duties of my state conscientiously, that I may do what is right and just. Let my charity be such as to offend no one, and hurt no one’s feelings; so generous as to pardon sincerely any wrong done to me. Assist me, O Holy Spirit, in all my trials of life, enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts, strengthen me in my weakness, help me in all my needs, protect me in temptations and console me in afflictions. Graciously hear me, O Holy Spirit, and pour Your light into my heart, my soul, and my mind. Assist me to live a holy life and to grow in goodness and grace. Amen.
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