8 June 2025 – Solemnity of Pentecost
Acts 2:1-11; Romans 8:8-17; John 14:15...26
Homily
Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, and John, in his Gospel, present us with two very different but complementary descriptions of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the first Christian community – that of the Apostles and the first disciples. In Luke, it is a visible, surprising and disturbing manifestation in their relationships with those around them. In John, it is entirely internal, an intimate presence. In both cases, it is the presence of the Spirit of God in human reality.
In ancient religions, human beings felt the need to go to God. Even in Israel, the Tent of Meeting (or Encounter Place) and, later, the Temple were considered the place of God's presence, where people went to meet God. But Jesus tells us that from now on it is God who wants to come to us. ...If we love him.
Throughout the Gospel, Jesus spoke abundantly about love of neighbour and love of His Father. Here, for the first time, in a moment of intimacy before His death, He speaks of love of Himself. ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments...’ This is not a simple external observance of precepts, but an identification with Him through love. Then He will pray to the Father, Who will send us the Spirit.
‘If you love me.’ This little word – "if’" – is important. It indicates that friendship or love is not imposed.
It is an invitation to which the answer is always uncertain. Then Jesus tells them what will happen if they love Him. First, if they love Jesus, they will be faithful to His two commandments: to love God and to love their neighbour. And He, for His part, will pray to the Father for them, and the Father will send them the Spirit of Truth, who will be their defender.
Then, a little further on, Jesus broadens His discourse. He had first said, ‘If you love me...’ Now he says, ‘If anyone loves me...’ This therefore applies to each one of us: if we love Jesus, we will be faithful to His Word, and His Father will love us. Jesus and His Father will come and make Their home with us.
One of the key words in this Gospel is the verb ‘to dwell’. This word is linked to the notion of duration and stability. It is pleasant to visit new places, but the place where we ‘abide’ is where we have established our permanent residence. It is relatively easy to have many superficial encounters, which can be beneficial and enriching, but ‘abiding’ faithfully in a personal relationship requires more permanence and stability.
The only relationships in which we can remain continuously and faithfully are relationships of love or friendship. And it is of such a relationship that Jesus speaks to his disciples during the last meal He shares with them, who are His friends. He calls them to remain faithful to this friendship, even when He is no longer among them.
Then He said to them, ‘The Spirit... will teach you everything, and He will remind you of everything I have said to you.’ The Spirit that Jesus promises is the Spirit of truth; He is also the Spirit of remembrance and memory. He dwells in the heart of every disciple of Jesus, that is, in the heart of everyone who has accepted His message, and constantly reminds them of that message.
On that day, the work of the Spirit began within the Church, which is nothing other than the small community of those who have put their faith in Christ Jesus. Strengthened by this Spirit of truth and memory, the Church of Jesus has passed through all the centuries, all the crises of society and all its own internal crises.
Jesus' conditional statement is addressed to all of us as to the group of disciples with whom He ate His last meal: ‘If you love me...’
We know that it is not easy to love, especially when we are aware of the demands of love: if we truly love Christ, His Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth, will give us the strength to face the truth about ourselves, individually, about ourselves as Church, and about each of those with whom we form the Church.
Faced with this Truth, which can reveal things about ourselves that are sometimes painful, both individually and as a Church, the Spirit of remembrance reminds us of the two great commandments: love of God and unconditional love of our brothers and sisters.
Armand VEILLEUX