Our New Archdiocese:
“One Body, One Spirit in Christ”
To avoid resentment, I invite all to receive the changes to our two dioceses with enthusiasm, putting the best interpretation on the steps being taken.
This challenge to be “of one mind and heart” has been with the Church of Christ from earliest days as we discover in the liturgy of this weekend’s Solemnity of the Coming of the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, the fruit of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a group of 120 Jewish elders, believers in Jesus, who became the nucleus of the early Church. From its origins, it attracted God-fearers and other Gentiles from all races and nations to become one.
The challenge to be united in mind, heart and spirit has been a perennial one, as we learn from the disputes between Antioch—where the new believers were first called “Christians”—and Jerusalem, until the question of circumcision could be resolved by the apostles under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Their decision began, “it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us…” (Acts 15.28).
Similarly, in Corinth, in a community of about sixty believers there were at least four parties, who saw things differently, “I am for Paul”, “I am for Apollos,” “I am for Cephas,” “I am for Christ” (1 Corinthians 1.12). Paul called them to be of one mind and one heart.
The readings for the Solemnity challenge us to live our faith guided by the Holy Spirit.
The fire and the wind drive the early Church to move boldly forward to witness to the life of faith we have. The second reading speaks of the diversity of gifts with which the Spirit blesses us. The gospel speaks of reconciliation and forgiveness as the first fruit of Jesus’ resurrection and gift of the Holy Spirit.
The prayer over the gifts invoking the Holy Spirit takes place twice during the Eucharistic prayer, over the bread and wine that they might become the Body and Blood soul and divinity of Jesus Christ and, after the consecration, that “we might become one body, one spirit in Christ” healed of all divisions.
Let us rejoice in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and allow them to move us into a future full of hope.
✠Terrence