Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD STL, Bishop of Parramatta
Homily for Pentecost Sunday
Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Rom 8:8-17; John 14:15-26
Led by the Spirit to become the force of solidarity
Dear brothers and sisters,
At the recent conclave in Rome, there was a special moment that brought much joy, excitement and anticipation to the crowd gathered at St Peter’s Square as well as those following the events on live television. Just as the white smoke wafted through the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, a young seagull chick was seen wobbling on its feet trying to reach its parents. Many saw this as a sign of a new life and a new era that the Church was ushered into thanks to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. With Pope Leo XIV, we are called to be the living witnesses of the Gospel for today’s divided, fearful and self-preoccupied world.
2000 years ago, there was also a moment of powerful transformation for the small group of followers of Jesus. Not exactly the A-Team but more like a motley crew, they were listless, lost and fearful as they huddled together in the Upper Room.
We are told that after the harrowing events in Jerusalem, they were in total disarray. The crucifixion of Jesus had shaken them to the core. They were confronted not only with the hostile world outside but also with a deep sense of guilt and recrimination from within. Yet, it was into this very moment of utter vulnerability that the Holy Spirit came and transformed them into a dynamic, unified and mission-driven community. They became the force of leaven and the catalyst for the reign of God for which Jesus had spent his whole life.
The Acts of the Apostles describes this transformation for us in dramatic terms. A powerful wind filled the house and tongues of fire came to rest on the head of each of them. In the Bible, these are signs of God’s revelation such as the wind and fire that accompanied the people of the covenant during the Exodus. Thus, just as God had done in the past, his Spirit imbued the community of the new covenant with fresh energy, direction and conviction. They were set on fire. They became the reconciling and unifying vehicle for the world. We are told that they began to speak in languages that everyone understood. Thus, Pentecost reversed the chaos and division at the Tower of Babel. The spirit-led and Gospel-infused community became an antidote to the cult of personal ambition, the zero-sum games and the winner-take-all modus operandi, all of which are still rampant in our success-driven society.
Pentecost, in fact, launched the Church as a sign of contradiction to individualism and self-obsession. We are the force of solidarity.
St Paul in the second reading affirms this fundamental truth. He says “the Spirit and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. We are heirs of God and coheirs with Christ.” In other words, Pentecost is more about belonging to the community than making our own way in the world. Our belonging encourages us to grow together. We are at worst diminished and at best incomplete without each other. As co-heirs with Christ, we are called to foster his legacy.
We must explore new ways of being together and living with one another and with the planet so that we can be a source of hope for the world. This is our Pentecostal mandate.
Dear friends,
The Holy Spirit emboldened and launched the early disciples forward as a force of leaven in the world. It is in our Christian DNA to be the sign of reconciliation and unity for the world. We are, in the words of the late Pope Francis, pilgrims of hope who are the walking companions with others, especially with the poor, on the journey towards the full realisation of the reign of God.
In the light of Pentecost, the Church is challenged to build a new future, to venture to new frontiers of fraternity, to end mistrust and violence, to create social bonds, to foster common purpose, to catalyse humanity to a new era of global solidarity. Pentecost points us to the true destiny to which we are all called.
Here in Parramatta, we are solidly committed to building a spirit-led and Gospel-infused community.
Our synodal journey that was launched at Pentecost 2023 didn’t end at the historic Diocesan Synod. We are moving together towards a vision of a synodal Church that we listened, discerned and decided together. It is the Church that walks together, that reaches to the margins, that is listening, that is inclusive and welcoming, humble and healing, renewed in spirit and prayer. This is the path of synodality anchored in the Trinity and yet open to the web of integral relationships with all. I encourage every community, agency, group and individual to give life to the Diocesan Pastoral Plan.
As we gather around the Eucharistic table, we are bolstered by the fresh energy that the Holy Spirit gives us. We model ourselves on the early Church in which all members contributed to the building up of the Body of Christ and the spreading of the Good News. May we learn to respond to the signs of the times and become more effective instruments of the Gospel. Impelled by the God of solidarity, let us walk humbly with our suffering brothers and sisters on the journey towards the fullness of God’s kingdom.
