May 24, 2026 at Saint Agnes Parish in Naples, FL
Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-11+ Psalm 104 + 1 Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13 + John 20: 19-33
There is a sense of powerlessness hanging over many of us these days. There is violence in homes, schools, and even churches that leaves us uneasy at best and fearful at its worst. There is button at every altar in this city waiting to be pushed at the first sign of trouble, and our parish offices have one as well. Most of us live behind gates, and many have alarm systems at home, and we don’t seem to know what to do about it. And so, we flee from communities that are dangerous and hide. We are a very much like the Apostles in today’s Gospel. They were hiding in some upper room.
Like us, a great task and mission was entrusted to them. Yet they had neither the strength nor the will to begin. Then the Holy Spirit came, and they were changed. Christ Jesus had said to them: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit come on you, and then you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” The key word here is “power.” It is exactly what they needed as they hid feeling absolutely powerless, overcome by fear and a feeling of inadequacy. Having seen what happened to Jesus they needed courage and someone to empower them.
What Christ Jesus promised is what we celebrate today. It is a promise of power, but it does no good to celebrate this Feast if we fail to accept that gift. We are a people empowered by baptism and confirmation. We are able to take charge of our situation. We may not wait for someone else to do it for us. We are a people filled with the Holy Spirit.
Our Church, its values, its vision of the Kingdom of God, its message of peace and reconciliation cannot remain hidden because we are timid or feel inadequate. We should not think that the change in the Apostles was something instant. That’s a too literal reading of the Gospels. It had to be a gradual thing, a growth process, and that can be painful and slow. We do not easily let go of old ways, habits, and attitudes.
People change when they are given hope, and they change when they are loved. They come out of hiding and some kind of energy is released in them. I believe that the miracle of human change is perhaps, the only real miracle. The power that changed the Apostles is not just for them. The Holy Spirit did not just come for a day and then blow away like the wind. That Spirit is ours too. It stirs up power in us like the wind. If fires up our courage to get up, speak up, and act up in the name of Jesus Christ and all that he taught us.
We are not helpless, and together we are far from inadequate. We are a people of hope with a clear vision of the Kingdom of God which is at hand and available now for those who choose every day to say: “Come Holy Spirit.” When we do things will change. We will no longer be waiting for someone to do what we can do, and fear will be replaced by joy.