Pentecost, Year C, 19.05.2013

Acts 2:1-11/ 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13 or Rom 8:8-17/ John 20:19-23 or John 14:15, 23-26


In today’s feast of Pentecost, the focus is none other than the Holy Spirit.

As we heard in the 1st reading, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles like a powerful wind from heaven and in tongues of fire.

That day was a great happening for the Church and they began to speak in foreign languages as the Holy Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

Another occasion that we hear about the Holy Spirit is during the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for the teenagers.

The bishop will be there, relatives and friends will be there, the teenagers are all dressed up, many photographs will be taken.

But after that, something strange happens. The teenagers seem to go into secret service or they go undercover. Because they don’t seem to be around anymore.

It’s like the story about the two Christian pastors and a Catholic priest having a discussion about the problem of birds in their churches.

The first pastor said that he covered up all the holes in the roof of the church but the birds still managed to come in.

The second pastor said that he called the pest control company but the problem persisted.

Then they asked the Catholic priest how he handled the problem, and he said, “Oh, I confirmed them, and they never come back.”

So, the Sacrament of Confirmation seemed to have a strange effect on Catholic teenagers; they seem to disappear after that.

Maybe the name of the Sacrament can be changed to something like “Sacrament of Confirmation and Last Rites”.

Yes, we lament that our teenagers seem to disappear after Confirmation.

For those of us who are concerned enough, we ask what is being done and who should be doing that.

Well, those are not new questions, and yet we also know that we need help in order to help these teenagers after Confirmation.

And God knows we need help, not just for the teenagers, but in all matters actually. And that help is already given.

In today’s gospel, Jesus said that He will ask the Father to send another Advocate to be with us forever.

The word “Advocate” had several meanings. An advocate comes to the defense of another person. An advocate also pleads for and on behalf of another person (as in intercession). And in the court of law, an advocate defends the cause of another person.

So more than just a helper, an advocate pleads the cause of another person.

So more than just a helper, an advocate defends us and fights for us and intercedes for us.

The Advocate that Jesus is talking about is none other than the Holy Spirit who will teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus taught us.

But more often than not, the Holy Spirit does not manifest Himself in dramatic and spectacular ways, like we heard in the 1st reading.

Instead, the Holy Spirit seems to be in secret service and He operates undercover.

But as the 2nd reading puts it, when we are interested in spiritual things, then the Holy Spirit will make His home in us and reveal to us how He works and how He helps us.

And as the Advocate, the Holy Spirit helps us by inspiring and prompting others to come to our help.

In other words, the Holy Spirit engages 3rd party intercessors and 3rd party intervention to manifest His help.

Take the case of St Therese of the Child Jesus, the patron saint of our parish.

At the tender age of 14, she already wanted to enter the Carmelite convent.

She asked permission from her father but her father was reluctant initially, but that was because he loved her the most and wanted her by his side.

She then asked her uncle who was her guardian then, and he also refused her, but later he relented and asked her to see the bishop.
So she went to see the bishop and he gave her a flat no!

At this point, we might think that enough is enough, better give up. But not for St. Therese.

After some time, she followed her father to Rome on a pilgrimage. There they went for an audience with the Pope.

They were forbidden to speak to him, but that did not stop St. Therese. She ignored all protocol and directly voiced her request to the Pope, begging him to let her enter the convent.

All the Pope said was: If God wants you to enter, the you will. 
(Effectively speaking, that was a “No!”) and the guards immediately led her out.

So it seemed like a gone case. Or so it seemed. 

While they were in Rome, her father went to visit a religious by the name of Bro. Simeon. 

The Vicar General Fr. Reverony happened to be there too, and he knew about St. Therese’s request, and like the bishop, he too was not in favour of it.

But when her father told her story to Bro. Simeon, he listened and even took notes. Finally with much emotion, Bro. Simeon said: One doesn’t see this kind of faith in Italy!

That statement made a great impact on the VG Fr. Reverony. It was like a mighty wind blew on him and he was enlightened.

Afterward, he strongly advocated St. Therese’s entry into the convent, and the rest was history.

So in St. Therese’s case, she had many intercessors – her father, who told her story to Bro. Simeon, who made a simple statement that made such an impact on the VG Fr. Reverony.

There was no drama or anything spectacular, no mighty wind or tongues of flames, but the Holy Spirit quietly moved people to be His instruments and intercessors for others.

What seemed impossible became possible. That is what the Holy Spirit, our Advocate can do. So whether it is about disappearing teenagers or old-timers, saints or sinners, the Holy Spirit is here to help us. 

The Holy Spirit want to help us become aware of the spiritual things and to make our hearts the home of God. 

When God makes His home in us, then we will become the instruments of the Holy Spirit, so that others will experience the power of God’s help.