Acts 2:1-11 / 1 Cor 12:3-7 / John 20:19-23
In the whole spectrum of creation, human beings stand out as the most unique.
Human beings have intellect and will. Their intelligence strives for development and new inventions.
They know generally what is right and wrong. They exercise their freedom of choice to do what they wish.
So, human beings can decide to do what is right or wrong. They can choose to be kind and gentle, or to be cruel and hostile.
They can choose to be generous or selfish. They can choose to be truthful or deceitful.
In other words, a person can choose to be whatever kind of human being he or she wishes to be.
So more than just acting on instinct, to be a human being is to make decisions, and to decide on choices.
That is what makes human beings so different from animals and other creatures.
But what makes human beings so unique is what is revealed by God in the Bible.
The Book of Genesis tells us that God made man in His image, and it was the best of all His creation.
So, humanity stands right at the top, over and above all other creatures and creation.
In other words, humanity is the glory of God.
But here comes the difficult part. If humanity is the glory of God, if humanity is made in the image of God, then why is there so much sin and evil in the world?
Humanity seems to be on the road of self-destruction, as well as the destruction of creation.
There are violence and hostility, bloodshed and genocide, pollution and the destruction of nature.
And on the personal level, there is greed and selfishness, exploitation and disregard of the human dignity.
And at times, human beings seem to be like worse than animals. That can be quite shocking and disgusting.
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost. At the first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples to empower them to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, and the Good News of salvation.
As we celebrate this feast, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to empower us as He did at the first Pentecost.
And Holy Spirit descends on the Church and on the world to reclaim and renew the image of humanity that God has created in His likeness.
The Holy Spirit wants to empower us to be living images of God's love so that we can be signs of God's presence in the world.
And the Holy Spirit wants to do so much in us and for us.
The Holy Spirit wants to help us to pray, so that we can discover the power of prayer that will help us see God's will and be able to do it.
The Holy Spirit wants to bless us, so that we are able to turn adversity into opportunity.
The Holy Spirit wants to show us signs and wonders, so that there will be conversion and repentance, and sinfulness will give way to holiness.
May the Holy Spirit reclaim and renew our hearts and make us living images of God's glory.
Then we will discover the particular way in which the Holy Spirit is given to each of us.
And may we let the Holy Spirit lead us to proclaim the marvels of God in our lives, so that we will see the signs and wonders of God in the Church and in the world.