Pentecost

by Fr. Jerome Cayetano  |  05/24/2026  |  The WORD in other words

I am reminded of a famous adage or quote: "Promises are made to be broken." I suppose this is true for us humans. We have made a lot of promises to people, but how many times have we broken them? This is not so with Jesus. He always fulfills His word and promise. He said this in His Last Supper discourse to His disciples: "I will ask the Father and he will give you another Paraclete - to be with you always: the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept..." (Jn 14:16) "When the Paraclete comes, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father - whom I myself will send from the Father - he will bear witness on my behalf. (Jn 15:36) If I fail to go, the Paraclete will never come to you." (Jn 16:7)

This promise is fulfilled in two ways. First in the Gospel account that we have heard today. When Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples at the upper room on the first day of the week. Jesus greeted them: "Peace be with you." Then He showed them His hands and His side. He said again: "Peace be with you." As the Father has sent me, so I send you...He breathed on them and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, whose sins you are retained." (Jn 20:23) To John, the Holy Spirit is the gift/fruit of Christ’s resurrection, which wrought "PEACE" and COMPLETE RECONCILIATION WITH GOD. To Luke, the giving of the Holy Spirit happened fifty days after Christ's Resurrection, as reported by him in Acts 2:1-11. Both John and Luke speak of the same reality. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth and peace was given to the first believing community that ushered in the birth of the Church because that was the moment when they were sent.

What is then is the meaning behind this solemnity? First, the disciples were transformed into a "new creation." From being fearful and timid, they have become joyful and courageous proclaimers of the Gospel. Despite being threatened many times by the Jewish authorities not to preach about Christ, they continued "to speak the Word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:31) Second, the disciples were transformed into instruments and ambassadors of peace. When Jesus greeted them saying, "Peace be with you," right at that moment "Peace" (Shalom = Harmony) was given to them. They are now completely reconciled with God. Thus, peace, shalom, and harmony ought to govern and permeate their lives. It would be ridiculous on our part, we who have been given "Peace" by Jesus, to still have resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts. There will only be peace in our world when it begins with each one of us. Third, the coming of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of the universal Church. The Apostles began to speak in many languages. We have one faith in God, spoken in many languages, which is only understood by love.

We are challenged today to understand well the work of the Holy Spirit. He is our Advocate, helper, the Spirit of Truth. He is our Sanctifier and we cannot become holy without invoking the help of the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, renew our minds and hearts so we can become holy like Jesus.