Other than the Annunciation, my personal favorite ecclesiastical feast has always been Pentecost, for it commemorates such a radical event that took place in our Catholic Church thousands of years ago and continually moves me every time I am reminded of it. Though it may have occured thousands of years ago, my heart reignites just rereading the passage from Acts this time of the year or whenever I hear Talk 4 at a Youth Camp or Talk 8 at a CLP.


Trying to comprehend the fact that 3000 were converted and baptized in 1 day all because the Apostles were unimaginably filled with the Holy Spirit is so difficult for me to fathom. So Incredible. Nowadays,  we  would consider it a lofty unattainable task. Why is that?

Not only were the Apostles filled with the Holy Spirit. From the very beginning, the Holy Spirit dwelt within Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Mary, and countless others. It was the same spirit that empowered Moses to lead the Hebrews out of bondage and into the Promised Land. It was that same spirit that motivated Peter to become the rock of our church. It was that same spirit that guided Mother Teresa as she did mission work for the poor. These people were all empowered by the same Spirit which then justifies our purpose. Our purpose in life should be directed always towards Heaven. Their goal was Heaven. The salvation we want and have is guaranteed by the way we live our lives. I pray that we may continue, or begin if we haven't yet started, to live with God, for living with God is being with the Holy Spirit.

It was all because of that same Spirit which propeled them to do so. Realistically speaking in our world today, I'm not saying we should be evangelizing 3,000 people in a day just like the Apostles, but we should completely and wholeheartedly allow the Holy Spirit to use us in whatever way He pleases as we reflect on The Great Commission that Jesus instructed before He ascended into Heaven. We may not evangelize 3,000 in our entire lifetime... maybe not even 100. But what we can do is simply say "yes" and LET THE FIRE FALL. Once more, He will use us in whatever way He pleases.