Pentecost Sunday – Year C
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: June 9, 2025
A few weeks ago I was preaching about the role of the Pope and I said that we need to watch and listen to be fed by the Pope. We now have a new Pope, Pope Leo XIV. In his initial actions, his initial words, does anything stand out to you?
For me, one word has stood out. Peace. He has repeated that word peace and spoken of the need for peace many times. In fact, his very first words to us after he was elected were, “Peace be with you.” The words of the Risen Lord Jesus to his disciples when he appeared to them. The words that we heard in the Gospel for this Feast of Pentecost. “Peace be with you.”
The Feast of Pentecost is really the Feast of the Church. It is about the Church being formed, inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, “as the Father sent me, so I send you.” We disciples of Jesus who form the body of Christ in the Church, we are sent out by Jesus. Sent into the world to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us.
Then Jesus breathes on the disciples and says, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.” The power of forgiveness. When you offer forgiveness you are being an instrument of the Holy Spirit. Peace and forgiveness go together. Neither peace nor forgiveness is possible without the other. You will only be a person who forgives if you are at peace and you will only be a person of peace if you forgive.
Each of you is called to be an instrument of God, to allow the Holy Spirit to work through you. You know that the Holy Spirit is working through you when you are an instrument of peace and when you are offering forgiveness.
One man who realized the need for the Catholic Church to be more aware of the Holy Spirit, was Cardinal Suenens who lived at the time of Vatican Council II. He would say, “I believe in the surprises of the Holy Spirit.” We are often afraid of change, at times we want to limit or control God. But, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and to surprise us. If we are never surprised in our faith then we are probably trying to control God rather than listening to God.
Sometimes we pray to ask God to do something. It would be more valuable to pray to know what God wants to do. To pray to know how the Holy Spirit wants to work through me in this moment. Simply pray, Come Holy Spirit. Then listen to what you are being called to do.
The first words of Pope Leo were the words of the Risen Lord Jesus when he appeared to the disciples. “Peace be with you.” Be a person of peace and an instrument of peace. Allow the Holy Spirit to work through you. Do not pray to tell God what to do, pray to hear what God is asking you to do. Be ready to be surprised by the Holy Spirit. Wherever you go bring peace and forgiveness. Wherever you go be with others in such a way that they will hear those words of Jesus, “Peace be with you.”
