Focus on the gift of the Spirit

Published: 29 November 2009

RE "Building bridges towards unity" (Centrepoint, CL 15/11/09), I was greatly surprised to read that Pentecostals form the second largest Christian community next to Catholics, and I confess I am not surprised.

In the past, for various reasons, I have been a member of five denominations, finally becoming Catholic from personal conviction.

Pentecostalism has a more vivacious form of worship, with expression by the congregation.

The Holy Spirit was a gift Jesus promised the disciples, they were to remain in Jerusalem until he would come to them, for Jesus knew these simple men could not face an enemy world, evangelise heathens without God being with them.

This gift came to them at Pentecost when "they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim" (Acts 2:4) in a manner that caused a profound excitement, enthusiasm, action on the part of all touched by him.

I may say and believe the Creed as a statement of fact, to which I say yes.

That does not mean I have any idea of who He really is in my life and what He has to do with my life right here and now.

I can attend Mass and at the end know I have fulfilled my weekly duty and still not know the God whom I have received.

The Pentecostalism I am aware of pursues that gift of the Holy Spirit, to bring the Holy Spirit into a person's life, an intimate presence of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - who is a source of joy, excitement, faith and purpose.

It lacks our central point of faith, called to be fulfilled by Jesus when he said, "Amen, amen, I say unto you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:53-54) - a call fulfilled in the Eucharist.

But we have to live out that eternal life while here on Earth and what Pentecostalism will give provides the strength and wisdom we need.

R PARKER
Oxley, Qld