Last Sunday, when we celebrated the Feast of the Ascension, we heard Jesus say to his disciples:
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” I suspect the apostles were shaking in their boots wondering how they could ever do what Jesus commissioned them to do. After all, they weren’t the most talented, sophisticated or educated group. Did they have what was needed to continue the work inaugurated by Jesus?
Having received the commission, they returned to Jerusalem and waited in prayer for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit. Ten days later the Spirit did come upon them. Having received the Holy Spirit they proved capable of all Jesus had asked of them. It’s not that they suddenly became more talented, sophisticated or educated. Rather, they were receptive to the Spirit and chose to place their gifts, whatever they were, at the service of the mission Jesus had entrusted to them. Their openness to the Holy Spirit and their generous decision to place their gifts at the disposal of the Spirit allowed the Church to be born and God’s work in Jesus to continue.
You and I have been given gifts and talents. Though we don’t have absolute control over what those gifts are, we do have a say in how those gifts will be used. Will you choose to open your heart and life to the Holy Spirit, placing your gifts at the service of Christ’s mission? The same Spirit that enlivened the apostles and followers of Jesus that first Pentecost is accessible to you and me. If we open our lives to the Spirit, the Church can be as dynamic and new as it was when the Spirit first came upon the community of believers.
Responding to Christ’s call can sometimes seem daunting and maybe, like the apostles, we are shaking in our boots just thinking about what doing God’s work will demand of us. Yet with God’s Spirit all things are possible. Trust the one who calls and place your life at his disposal. May the Church be born anew through you and me.