Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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In the opening lines of the Book of Genesis, we hear: “In the beginning… the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters… Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light.” (Gn 1:1–3)
That “mighty wind” can be understood as the very breath of God — bringing order out of chaos, light out of darkness. Creation begins when God breathes it into existence.
A little later, God forms man from the dust of the earth. But Adam does not live until God breathes into him the breath of life. (Gn 2:7) Humanity begins when God breathes into the clay of Adam.
And at Pentecost, something new begins again.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that “a noise like a strong driving wind” filled the house, and tongues of fire came to rest on the disciples. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues. (Acts 2:2–4) Once more, the breath of God is at work — not forming the world this time but forming a people. From many, God makes one. The Church comes to life.
Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. And what gives her life is still the same: the breath of God. God never stops breathing life into us.
And so we read that after the Resurrection, Jesus breathed on his apostles and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (John 20:22–23). Even when we falter, God restores us. He fills us again with the life-giving breath of his Spirit.
Ask the Spirit to renew us and give us life. In fact, ask the Spirit to renew the face of the entire world. May the Lord resuscitate us and bring us back to the life he gave us at our baptism. May the Spirit enlighten the world and dispel the darkness of our times, turn hatred into love, sorrow into joy, sickness into health, and divisions into the peace we so desire.
Have a blessed week everyone.