Father Randy Koenigsknecht
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Reflect on Pentecost and discover how the Holy Spirit transforms hearts, brings new life, and calls each of us to become joyful witnesses of Christ.
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Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, and the New Life God Wants for Us
Whenever we get to Pentecost—really, whenever we start talking about the Holy Spirit—one central question tends to come to mind for me:
Do you long for something more?
Ever since Easter, we’ve been building up to today. Every reading has mentioned the Holy Spirit, has had Him within it, pointing us and helping us get ready for this, which is the final fulfillment of what Jesus started at Easter: the Resurrection.
Through the Holy Spirit, we receive new life.
And in all the readings, there’s actually a progression that’s been taking place.
Easter Sunday, we start with Jesus, who lived and worked in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Then it comes to the Apostles—what they did and what happened to them.
And then it comes down to us, the regular folk, and the Holy Spirit in our lives.
One of the essential works of the Holy Spirit is teaching us who God is and who we are to Him.
To experience God as our Father—not just to know it, not just to know that phrase, “I’m a beloved son” or “I’m a beloved daughter of God,” but to actually experience that… to know it in your heart… to know what it is like to be loved that much.
To know the peace.
The joy that can come from following Him.
The confidence.
The assurance of life—of new life.
That’s what He wants to give us.
And then when we receive that, we come to the Ascension, which we celebrated last week.
And in that Gospel, this is where the Holy Spirit sends us out.
Or we can’t help but talk about what Jesus has done.
We can’t help but witness to Him.
And so Jesus tells His disciples:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses… in Jerusalem and Judea and to the ends of the earth.”
You will be my witnesses.
As we call on the Holy Spirit, we ask with expectant faith to be stirred up within us.
When we do that, it sometimes leads to dramatic effects.
The Holy Spirit moves our knowledge from our heads to our hearts.
He teaches us who the Father is.
He teaches us the truths of our faith.
He makes them real.
He makes them alive within us.
God wants to make you fully who you are.
That’s what happens when we receive the Spirit:
We become fully alive.
And it’s possible for each one of us.
He can do incredible things through each one of us.
But it starts with asking for it.
With expectant faith.
“God, I want this. I want You to do this in me.”
If you’re feeling stirred toward it, have the boldness to reach out.
Ask another person to pray for you.
Pray with you.
After this Mass, pray for this to come alive in your hearts, because this is what makes us true disciples.
This is what gives us joy.
This is what gives us life.
Others can see it and hear it in us.
So I invite you to join me now in a very simple prayer:
Heavenly Father, I ask that You would send down Your Spirit upon us as You did upon the Apostles at Pentecost.
Lord, I pray that You would break down any obstacles in our lives, any barriers preventing us from living in the power of Your Spirit.
Lord, I ask that You would cast out doubts from all of us here.
Doubts about whether this is for me.
Whether this is really possible.
Cast out doubts about whether we’re good enough.
Lord, we give You permission to transform us.
Bring us renewal.
Bring us new life.
Bring refreshment in You.
Work in us, Lord.
Come Holy Spirit.
Come Holy Spirit.