Seven weeks later, the disciples were once again in the upper room, but filled with expectancy, not dread. This shows how closely united are the death-destroying resurrection of Christ and the life-creating gift of the Holy Spirit. But when Jesus entered, they rejoiced, and when he breathed upon them, they came alive with the gift of the Holy Spirit (cf. Despondent and shattered, they were like lifeless clay or dry bones. Let’s begin with John’s account of the apostles in the upper room, which describes a frightened group of men behind locked doors. First, the Holy Spirit is a heavenly gift from the Father and Son secondly, he transforms and empowers those who receive him thirdly, he unites the people of God-the Church-in an inimitable, supernatural way. His beautiful hymn emphasizes three essential truths about the Holy Spirit, each of which is revealed in today’s readings. In another verse, he wrote, “Do you, then, dearly beloved, stand and simply observe the fire, which the One who is in heaven has sent from on high.” And, “Then brothers, let the One descended upon us cast out fear from our minds.” Romanus the Melodist, in a kontakion, or hymn, celebrating the solemnity of Pentecost. So wrote the sixth-century Church father, St. “Spirit and fire are united-a true miracle, air and fire are joined together-awesome sight!”
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