A new Pentecost for the Church in Oklahoma

Since my arrival in 2011, one of my persistent prayers has been for a New Pentecost for the Church in central and western Oklahoma. 

I have asked many times that we pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the people of our archdiocese; that we may embrace our apostolic mission to evangelize and “go make disciples.” In these days following the celebration of Pentecost, I would like to reflect upon this New Pentecost and what it means for each of us.

Saint Paul speaks about the role that a rich variety of spiritual gifts have in building up of the Church. He said, “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone. To each is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1Cor 12:4-7). 

The Spirit pours these gifts abundantly upon the Church to build up the Body. Because we have been baptized into Christ, all of us can receive these gifts and have something to share as we seek to build up the Church in a supernatural way.

The clearest example of this kind of outpouring of the Holy Spirit is on the day of Pentecost when the Apostles were given the gift of preaching so that people who spoke many different languages could understand them and be brought to faith in Jesus Christ. The Spirit gave the Apostles this extraordinary gift, not for their own good, but for building up the Church and carrying out the mission entrusted to them to go make disciples. 

I also think of the example of our own Blessed Stanley Rother. After struggling through seminary because of his inability to master Latin, he became a missionary and was given the gift and ability to learn and speak not only Spanish, but Tzʼutujil, the native Mayan dialect of his people. This gift and effort were not for his own good but to enable him to bring many people to the faith.

Saint Paul also lists several other charisms given by God to build up the Church. Along with tongues and interpretation of tongues, he lists words of wisdom and knowledge, faith, healing, the working of miracles, prophecy and the discernment of spirits. Later in the same chapter, he said, “God has appointed in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various tongues.” What an amazing richness!

All this discussion of the charisms and gifts of the Spirit takes place within a discussion of the Church as the Body of Christ. Every member of the Church is part of the Body of Christ, and all of us have an important part to play in the life of the Church. 

When one member suffers, we all suffer. When one member is honored, we all are honored. For the Body to flourish, each part of the Body, each member of the Church must live and act according to the purpose God has given them.

In this context, the message of Saint Paul becomes very clear. If we allow the Holy Spirit to live and act in us according to the gifts he offers us, then the Church will grow, and live and flourish. When we do not live and act according to the gifts given us by the Spirit, the Church suffers and is diminished. 

Therefore, we pray for a New Pentecost. We need the many people of this archdiocese to be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to pour out on us for building up the Body of Christ – the Church – in Oklahoma.

On Pentecost Sunday, through the preaching of the Apostles, 3,000 people were brought to faith in Jesus and were baptized. Because these 11 men were open to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, 3,000 people came to know Jesus Christ. 

Imagine the impact on our world if the thousands of Catholics in Oklahoma were truly open to the working of the Spirit in their lives. Imagine how many people would come to faith in Jesus Christ if we opened ourselves to receive and live according to the gifts the Spirit wants to give us. Again, I invite you to pray with me for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit for a New Pentecost in Oklahoma.