The Upper Room

Imagine being in the Upper Room with the apostles at Pentecost. “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 tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were filled with the holy Spirit” [Acts 2:1–4].

What happened next? The apostles began to “speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim” [Acts 2:4]. No doubts, no fears, they spoke of the mighty acts of God.

We learn from the Upper Room the fulfillment of our Lord’s promise to send forth his Spirit. “God says that ‘I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh’” [Acts 2:17]. Truly, the Spirit of the Lord fills the world [Wisdom 1:7]. Do we accept the Holy Spirit or do we reject it as so many have because they neither see nor know it?

Now Is the Time

“Repent and be baptized,” said Peter, “in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit” [Acts 2:38]. The Holy Spirit “comes to us and kindles faith in us” [CCC 683].

However, we live in a time when faith in God is declining. A recent Wall Street Journal poll found that money is more important to Americans than belief in God. Truly now is the time to embrace the Holy Spirit. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness” [CCC 741].

As seen in the Upper Room, with the Holy Spirit comes spiritual gifts. Those gifts are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord [CCC 1831]. “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” [1 Corinthians 12:7].

And with those gifts come perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us. Those perfections are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity [CCC 1832]. These priceless gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit are for us to share!

Accepting the Holy Spirit within us, we partake in the divine life and work of our God and Savior. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” [CCC 733]. Certainly, no amount of money can be as fulfilling or long-lasting.

We Are Not Alone

As Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans” [John 14:18]. The Holy Spirit—the Paraclete—is our intercessor and consoler. “The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you” [John 14:26].

Should we have any doubts or fears of the Holy Spirit, let us contemplate Mary. The Mother of Jesus our Savior was with the disciples in prayer in the Upper Room. “Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time” [CCC 721].

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Mary too is our intercessor, consoler, giving us comfort with her maternal love. Through our Blessed Mother, the Holy Spirit begins to bring us into communion with Jesus [CCC 725]. Like those in the Upper Room, let us adhere to the will of God the Father, follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and as brothers and sisters in Christ, share the loving goodness of our Lord. Amen!