Mass of Holy Spirit 2019
Acts 2: 1-11, John 20: 19-22
My father died, while I was in a Jesuit in grad school in Boston. Like all grieving, my grief had its own pace, its ebbs and flows. He died around Christmas, I returned to grad school, and for some months felt disconnected and out-of-sorts. But then, my brother came to visit and we went to a Red Sox game in Fenway, on a beautiful, warm spring afternoon. We watched the shadows fall across the field as the sun set. With cold beers in hand, my brother and I toasted my father, who once played baseball and who dragged us to countless games growing up. At that moment, I felt quite unexpectedly a deep peace, for the first time since my dad died.
Maybe this is how the disciples felt that day in the Upper Room. Once sad, full of fear, or longing, the risen Lord greeted them—as John tells us—wishes them peace, and breathes his Spirit upon them. Sometimes the Spirit works that way—gently, quietly, subtly, peacefully. These can be sure signs of God’s presence among us.
But not the only signs. Sometimes the Spirit of God works differently. As some of you know, before joining the Jesuits, I practiced law, and through a variety of circumstances at an unsettled point in my life, I left the law and made a bold leap into the unknown—I taught high school! I remember being the most tired I had ever been after that first week of teaching: five preps, about 25 students or more per class; taking on coaching soccer at the same time. I was exhausted but exhilarated. I loved teaching and coaching. I was alive in a way I had not felt in a long time.
This too is how the Spirit works sometimes—like a rush of mighty wind as described in Acts, setting the disciples on fire! The Spirit stirs in our deepest passions and bold desires and inspires a contagious enthusiasm or zeal.
The Spirit of God cannot be contained, nor is the Spirit predictable. God is at work everywhere—including at Santa Clara. And God is at work in everyone—no matter who we are or where we come from or by whatever name we call God. God is at work in and through and around us, but do we notice?
Sometimes we experience the Divine Presence like a rush of mighty wind:
- Like when we have this insight in our studies that so rocks our world or alters our thinking, that we change a major or career;
- Like when we are really bonding with friends on a Friday (or Wednesday!) night, or connecting deeply with fellow athletes on a team, or actors on a stage;
- Like when we are completely, blessedly overwhelmed by the beauty of the Pacific Ocean crashing against the shores in Santa Cruz or Monterrey;
- Like when the suffering of others breaks our heart and impels us to do something;
- Like when we fall in love, and our world is turned upside down!
Sometimes we experience the Spirit like a peaceful, gentle breath:
- Like when we are with people we love and feel completely ourselves;
- Like when we are held by another who loves us, and we feel such peace;
- Like when we stand under towering redwoods in silent awe;
- Like when we experience an unexpected confidence in the face of some great challenge;
- Like when we have the courage to forgive another or forgive ourselves for some wrong.
When present as passion or peace, the Spirit is here, for us, with us, this year. But this inspiring and consoling presence is not simply about making us feel better. If the Spirit of God is truly present, then it will spill over—in us and through us and out of us—into the world ... if we don’t get in the way.
The Spirit missions us. In the reading from Acts, the Spirit moved the disciples to speak different languages, not to be impressive, but so that others could understand them and the good news God wanted them to hear. The Spirit builds connection, community. The same happens here, when we speak so that another can really hear us, and when we listen to another, presuming good intentions. We build community, one conversation, one chance encounter, one friendship at a time.
In John’s gospel, Jesus missioned the disciples to share his peace with others beyond the upper room. St. Ignatius offers a simple but helpful insight about how we are missioned. In his Spiritual Exercises, he describes the risen Lord meeting his friends and consoling and encouraging them. The same happens here when our first impulse is not to doubt ourselves or critique another, but simply to encourage one another and believe in ourselves.
God is at work at Santa Clara. Imagine the Holy Spirit laboring in all people—in friends but also in those who frustrate or disagree with us. Imagine listening more and speaking boldly our truth. Imagine practicing encouragement. Imagine all of our campus as God’s playground: every part of campus—not just chapels, but residence halls, laboratories, classrooms, libraries, playing fields—where we search for truth, appreciate beauty, and strive for goodness.
If we really believed the Spirit of God was this creative and generous and unpredictable, then our campus will be transformed in unbelievable ways.
