I have never heard that Wind.... A homily for the Feast of Pentecost

My first charismatic worship experience was when my father left the Baptist church and attended a Pentecostal Church. He asked me to go with him.

I knew Mass and the Baptist service; both, quiet reverent services. Mass had standing and kneeling. The Baptist had the Amen or occasional Hallelujah.

But, I had heard things. I didn’t know what to expect. When I got there, people were shouting, speaking in tongues, dancing, waving their arms, and falling to the floor. I was about 13 and it scared me.

Think about the apostles. Maybe they were scared as they waited for the one the Father would send. They didn’t know what to expect. Jesus promised the Paraclete would come, so, they waited. The time they waited between the ascension and Pentecost is known as the in-between time.

We all have in-between times in our lives; time in-between the big events. Times we are scared or don't know what to expect. What do we do with them? Let me suggest this, pray.

We as believers pray…., Come Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Then, we wait.  

I have an in-between time on the altar each week. Before I proclaim the gospel, I ask for a blessing.  “Bless me, Father.” Then with the Book of the Gospel I proceed to the ambo to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord. In that in-between time, I pray.

I pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to come make my words loud and strong so that all may hear. I pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that the Gospel will fill all those who hear it with the Holy Spirit so they may go forth and live a life that proclaims the Gospel of the Lord.

If I give the homily, I pray that the Lord fills my meager words with the power of the Holy Spirit to touch hearts and souls for the Lord. In that in-between time, I pray and give myself over to the Holy Spirit.

That’s what the apostles did. They came together in the upper room and prayed. They prepared to proclaim the Gospel. They prepared for the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

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…

I once asked a friend who attended a Charismatic Holiness Church and who experienced the Holy Spirit by falling on the floor in ecstasy and speaking in tongues if he knew it was going to happen.

Maybe, I asked because I wanted the experience. Maybe, I doubted.

He said the Spirit comes with the sound of a driving wind, when you hear that, make yourself ready.

I have never heard this wind…. But what he said was so true.

We cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit unless we make ourselves ready. God does not impose himself on anyone. We must make ourselves ready by being open to the coming of God’s love.

To receive the gifts of Christ, to receive the Holy Spirit, to open up to the charisms or charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, we have to open up to the coming of God’s love.

All the things the apostles experienced at the coming of the Holy Spirit is theophany; the visible manifestation of God to man. The theophany of the Holy Spirit robed in the mystery, majesty, and mighty power that is God yet made visible so those present could experience it.

What does that in-between time have to do with this? People want to know the presence of the Holy Spirit. They want to be restored to paradise that is the Kingdom of God. Yet, they are afraid to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit.

But, they are in the in-between waiting for something to happen: A driving wind, tongues of fire, and speaking in tongues. 

I have never heard this wind….

Let me suggest this - Pray. Prayers don’t have to be poetry or eloquent words. Just pray with heart that is true. Pray the prayers learned as a child. Pray with an earnest heart.

Pray, for the Gospel tells us:  No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit …, 

Jesus told us that “when the Advocate comes, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, will testify to me. And you also testify….

No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit….  If we give ourselves over to the Holy Spirit, we will testify Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.

The Holy Spirit is everywhere in history. It breaks through in critical moments, moments when the universe needs, moments when humanity needs, and moments when you and I need. The Holy Spirit never ceases to come into the world.

Give yourself completely to the Holy Spirit. Live by the Spirit. Follow the Spirit.  Be open for the coming of the Holy Spirit, because, the mystery, majesty, and mighty power of God is proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is a true anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Many are living in the in-between times, waiting for the sound of a driving wind, tongues of fire, or the ecstasy the Holy Spirit brings. They wait for an anointing of the Holy Spirit. 

I have never heard that wind …, but, I know the presence of the Holy Spirit.

I know the presence of the Holy Spirit that never ceases coming into the world and our lives. The theophany, the visible manifestation of God to the world is this: No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit…,

Come Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

Be good, be holy, pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit to proclaim that Jesus is my Lord and savior; by the way you live and love. Amen.