Throughout this Pentecost novena, we are praying to receive more deeply the Holy Spirit of unity (see Eph 4:3) by which we can be one as the Father and Jesus are One (Jn 17:21). However, unity does not mean glossing over divisions; it means surfacing and confronting them. For instance, Paul surfaced the disunity between the Pharisees and Sadducees (Acts 23:6-7). Because of this, Paul was almost torn into pieces by the rival forces (Acts 23:10). If we receive the Holy Spirit of unity, we will face disunity head on and suffer accordingly. This presents a problem. Although we desire unity with God, in the Church, and even between enemies, we probably don't want to sacrifice our life "to gather into one all the dispersed children of God" (Jn 11:52). If we are unwilling to die for unity, we don't want to receive the Holy Spirit of unity. So Pentecost, unity, and a self-sacrificial death all go together. We have Pentecost when our love for the Lord and for people is stronger than our selfishness and fear of death (see Sg 8:6). Love is the catalyst leading us to die to self, build unity, and receive a new Pentecost. This, in turn, will greatly deepen our love, leading to martyrdoms, a progression of Pentecosts, and Trinity-unity. Will you love enough to pray: "Come, Holy Spirit"? |