PENTECOST HOMILY, JOHN 20:19-23, May 28, 2023
1. STORY
John’s business was selling balloons at an amusement park. One day a boy approached him and was
fascinated by the different colored balloons. Accidentally, a red balloon slipped out of
John’s hand and rose up into the sky. The
boy asked John if he released a black colored balloon would it also go up. John explained to the boy that the color of
the balloon was not important. What was
important was the air inside of the balloon that made it rise. What is important for us is not the color of
our skin but the Holy Spirit in our heart.
2. GOSPEL, JOHN 20:19-23
A) RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
After his resurrection while visiting the apostles, Jesus gave
them the gift of the Holy Spirit, ‘He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy
Spirit.”’ In our first reading, Acts
2:1-11, the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles like a wind, “Suddenly from up
in the sky there came a noise like a strong, driving wind” which is invisible
and also fire, “Tongues of fire appeared,” which is a sign of God’s presence in
the Bible. So, the Holy Spirit is God’s
invisible power in us.
B) AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME SO I SEND YOU
Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit because he has a task we must carry out, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Just as in our first reading, Acts 2:1-11, the apostles preached the gospel, so too does Jesus want us to do the same.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A) THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
There are many invisible powers in our life. Wind can move a sail boat, electricity can
produce light in a light bulb, and radio waves make the mobile phone possible. The Holy Spirit, God’s invisible power, can
guide us on our life’s journey, teach us the truth and comfort us in our
sorrow. This same Spirit gives us the
courage and ability to preach the gospel.
B) SHARING THE GOSPEL
Just as a thirsty person needs water, a hungry person needs food and sick person needs health, so too do we need Jesus. Jesus is the living water, the bread of life and the physician who can heal us. Because there are so many spiritually needy persons, Jesus wants us to tell others that he is the source of peace, happiness and eternal life.
4. CONCLUSION
Just as a balloon rises because of the air inside it, so too are we able
to rise, do good things. Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit, God’s
invisible power, so that we have the courage and ability to preach the gospel, tell
others that Jesus is the source of happiness, peace and eternal happiness.
