What a gift to journey through the Book of Acts during the Easter Season. I can just picture St. Luke, scribing events at a rapid pace, eager to tell us more! It’s as if the Gospel – GOOD NEWS – wasn’t enough. He needs to record these historical gems, these moments in Christian history that may seem like ancient history to some, but indeed have a real effect on our everyday lives. In this great account of the Early Church, the early Christians grappled with the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection. Early persecutions and disputes over doctrine are recorded, but perhaps most outstanding, more extraordinary than any of the early events, is the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
One year, my daughter asked me to describe what happened at Pentecost. Without blinking an eye, I began making the shape of a fireball on top of my head. I tried my best, making a wavy action above my head, to explain the descent of the Holy Spirit. “It was like fire!” I told her. To which she responded with a weird, confused look. Then I mentioned how Jesus breathed on them. “Remember that? He breathed on them!” Still nothing. Just confused looks. As I sat in the pew, looking at the flame images on the beautiful church decorations, waiting for the choir to sing (also decked out in red for the occasion), it struck me that this conversation was impossible. It’s not just impossible to explain the Holy Spirit to an eight year old, it is indeed a mystery that leaves us pondering even as adults.
One image I didn’t use to describe the Holy Spirit that day was power. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke describes the following scene:
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:6-8)
The word for power is important. The Greek word used here is dunamis. We use the same word for dynamic and dynamite! In other parts of the Scriptures, we hear power used with the Greek word exousia. This word is closer to authority. We have power and authority as Baptized Christians. Here, though, at the moment of Pentecost, this word dunamis is used for the first time. The power of the Holy Spirit? It is DYNAMITE power!
This dynamite power changes us. Often, it can explode every expectation if we allow it. The Gospel does not tickle ears, it changes hearts. The early Apostles were hiding in a room, full of fear. Pentecost changed all of this. We can also hide in our upper room, afraid to share our faith or perhaps afraid to ‘rock the boat’ when religion becomes a hot topic in our families. We too can ‘hide’ from the duty we have as Confirmed Catholics to speak the truth and witness to others. The solution? Keep the dynamite close to you. Know of its power. Don’t underestimate the dunamis of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the easiest way is to remember to pray:
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.
O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May this Easter Season continue to bless you daily with signs of life and the Resurrection. While I may never be able to fully explain in detail what happened on that day of Pentecost, especially to my young children, I know of this DYNAMITE power, and I pray the same for you.