(Given at the 8:30 am and 10:30 am Sunday Masses)
Pentecost stands as the “birthday” of the Catholic Church, not as her origin, but as her manifestation to the world. As the Catechism states, the Church is born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. Her birth is symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from Christ’s pierced side. Pentecost is when the Church begins her mission in full: Go forth, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. The Holy Spirit, one God with the Father and the Son, enables the twelve apostles to speak to the crowds and proclaim Jesus Christ with boldness. There were both Jews and Gentiles present at this event, coming from different parts of the world, speaking different languages. The twelve can now speak personally to each one in their native tongue and lead them to Jesus Christ. And the Church still does this today. Beyond what we heard in our first reading, what happens next? Peter, the leader of the apostles, comes forward and preaches. He stands with the eleven. He challenges those present with his words. He speaks of salvation history, the death and resurrection of Christ, God’s promises fulfilled, God’s kingdom arrived. The crowds are cut to the heart: what shall we do, they ask? Peter is clear: repent and be baptized every one of you for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the Holy Spirit. 3,000 respond and are baptized. The Church begins to grow. Like the mustard seed growing into a large tree. This entire scene is profound. It speaks of the reunification of the human family in Christ via his body, the Church. This, of course, stands in contrast to any nationalism or denominationalism found among believers. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. In the first century, Peter is central to this unity. Even today, like it or not, the successor of Peter, the pope, stands as the central religious figure of Christianity. We Catholics are blessed to have this mechanism of unity present in the Church, which other Christian groups lack. The pope is the great unifier, and this vocation stems from Jesus making Peter the Rock on which the Church is built as well as Peter’s call to strengthen the other apostles in Luke 22. My brothers and sisters, on this day of the Holy Spirit, pray for Pope Leo. May the same Holy Spirit who filled Simon Peter, the first in the line of papal succession, fill Pope Leo with the graces he needs to be the best pillar of unity he can be.