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The Community at Prayer
Reflection by Father Paul M. Baca
May 11, 2008, Pentecost Sunday

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The first reading for today's feast is taken from the Acts of the Apostles and it is one that challenges us to reflect on our Christian heritage. "When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled they were all in one place together and suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them in tongues as of fire which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound they gathered in a large crowd but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language." The amazing thing to me is everyone in the crowd heard them and understood what they were saying in spite of the fact that they came to visit Jerusalem from different countries that spoke different languages. Since the first time that I read this passage in the Acts of the Apostles, how great it would be if there were such a language which everyone could understand. Different languages have dominated the world scene at different times but not one was ever understood by everybody. It was really a miracle. But as I have reflected on this for years, I have come to the conclusion that there is a language that everyone can understand and that is the language of love that Jesus taught. In the thirteenth chapter of St. John's gospel, we read, "I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. So you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another."

It seems to me that the world has substituted greed and self indulgence for the kind of love Jesus speaks of. Not everyone of course, because there are great acts of generosity and love going on all around us, but unfortunately they don't place first on our newscasts. You have to dig in and look around and when you do, you will find great examples of love and service just as Jesus taught. It was heartwarming to watch 60 Minutes last night, that is, May 4. One example was that of law students (The Innocence Project of Dallas) who dedicate a great deal of time to review cases some three decades old, of possible injustice in our judicial system. One man served 27 years in prison, but one young woman by pursuing DNA data, was able to prove that he was not the one who had committed the horrible crime of rape and murder. Sadly, the prosecutors had evidence at their disposal that should have led them to justice, but didn't. Now the man is 56 years old and I wonder what will he do with his life, and can anyone in any way make it up to him for the injustice. The other story was about a doctor who was able to go to medical school on a scholarship. He and his family had lived in a little bus and later on in a boat. Through his efforts at fund raising and recruiting, his group provides life saving healthcare in the poorest part of Haiti, which is the poorest country in the hemisphere. His group provides health care in several other countries to people who otherwise would never have an opportunity of healthcare.

Such examples of love, commitment and dedication are, I believe, a language everyone can understand. I had never heard of these examples because they never appeared on the news that we watch daily.

Pentecost is considered the birthday of the church that Jesus founded to proclaim to the whole world a message of love and caring. If we take the time to dig in to the lives of the saints, we find men, women and children who beautifully exemplify what the law of love is all about. In fact, we know that there are many people in all the world religions and many who do not even proclaim any religion who are daily reflecting the message of love as Jesus taught by the lives that they live and proclaim.

I find no exclusion in the second reading where St. Paul says to the Corinthians and to us, "There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same spirit. There are different forms of service but the same Lord. There are different workings of the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the spirit is given for some benefit.

I pray that Pentecost become for all of us a time of reflection on how Almighty God, our loving Mother and Father, has given us this language of love. May our reflection on the teaching of Jesus lead the human family to relationships of mutual life enhancement. May we never be detoured by greed or a spirit of self indulgence.

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