40 DAYS AGO ON EASTER SUNDAY WE TALKED ABOUT THE EASTER REVOLUTION. WE SAID THAT CHRISTIANITY IS A REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT.
WHAT IS A REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT? A REVOLUTION IS DESCRIBED AS A SUDDEN AND MOMENTOUS EVENT THAT BRINGS ABUT A CHANGE IN THE MAJOR PART OF THE POPULATION.
ON EASTER SUNDAY ALMOST 2000 YEARS AGO, HISTORY RECORDED A SUDDEN AND MOMENTOUS EVENT. A MAN WHO WAS DEAD WALKED AWAY FROM HIS OWN GRAVE. A MAN WHO WAS DEAD WALKED OUT OF THE CEMETERY ON HIS OWN POWER. NO ONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD HAD EVER DONE THAT BEFORE. NO ONE HAS EVER DONE IT SINCE. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS FROM THE DEAD WAS A MOMENTOUS EVENT. WE CALL IT THE EASTER REVOLUTION.
THIS REVOLUTION WAS NOT LIKE THE COMMUNIST REVOLUTIONOR THE SOCIALIST REVOLUTION THAT ENSLAVED AND MURDERED 100 MILLION PEOPLE. THIS REVOLUTION WAS NOT LIKE THE FRENCH REVOLUTION THAT WENT MAD WITH HATE. A HATE THAT DESTROYED INSTITUTIONS AND MURDERED LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL OF SOCIETY.
IN THE JESUS REVOLUTION ONLY ONE MAN SHED HIS BLOOD. THAT MAN WAS THE SON OF GOD. IN THE JESUS REVOLUTION THAT MAN SHED HIS BLOOD TO BRING LIFE NOT DEATH TO THE HUMAN RACE. THE DYNAMIC OF THAT REVOLUTION WAS LOVE NOT HATE.
THE RESURECTION OF JESUS CHRIST WAS A STUNNING EVENT. THE APOSTLES WERE EXCITED BUT THEY WERE AFRAID AND SO THEY HID THEMSELVES IN THE UPPER ROOM IN JERUSALEM. FEAR IS NOT UNUSUAL WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A REVOLUTION.
40 DAYS AFTER THE EASTER REVOLUTION BEGAN THE HOLY SPIRIT OF JESUS DESCENDED UPON THE APOSTLES IN THE UPPER ROOM. THIS IS CALLED PENTECOST SUNDAY.
LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO THE WORDS OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING FROM THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES:
“SUDDENLY THERE CAME FROM THE SKY A NOISE LIKE A STRONG DRIVING WIND AND FILLED THE ENTIRE HOUSE. THERE APPEARED TO THEM TONGUES AS OF FIRE, WHICH PARTED AND CAME TO REST ON EACH ONE OF THEM. AND THEY WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK IN DIFFERENT TONGUES AS THE SPIRIT ENABLED THEM TO PROCLAIM.”
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MEN WHO EXPERIENCED THIS FRIGHTENING EVENT? SUDDENLY THEY WEREN’T AFRAID ANYMORE. THEY REALIZED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT WHAT THEY WERE COMMANDED TO DO DID NOT DEPEND ON THEM BUT ON THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD.
THEY REMEMBERED WHAT THE PROPHET JOEL HAD PROPHESIED 830 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST: “I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH. YOUR[EY1] SONS AND DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, EVEN UPON THE SERVANTS AND THE HANDMAIDS IN THOSE DAYS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT. AND I WILL WORK WONDERS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH.
THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST STATEMENTS IN THE BIBLE. IT TELLS US HOW GOD IGNITES THE LIFE OF HIS SPIRIT IN HIS PEOPLE. HE POURS OUT HIS SPIRIT ON THEM AND THEY ARE NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. WHEN GOD PROMISES TO “POUR OUT” HIS SPIRIT, THIS IS MORE THAN A TRICKLE. IT MEANS THAT GOD PLANS TO RELEASE THE FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN INTO THE HUMAN HEART.
REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO NIAGARA FALLS AND IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO NEW YORK STATE.
ON PENTECOST SUNDAY THE PROPHECY OF JOEL WAS FULFILLED. THE HOLY SPIRIT FLOODED THE HUMAN HEART. THE WONDERS AND WORKS OF GOD WERE SEEN IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH.
“YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON YOU; AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.” Acts 1:8)
GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES. THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS THE FUEL FOR THE EASTER REVOLUTION.
GOD NEVER POURS OUT HIS SPIRIT SIMPLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTERTAINING US OR TO CAUSE STRANGE EMOTIONAL MANIFESTATIONS. GOD POURS OUT HIS SPIRIT SO THAT WE WILL BE BOLD WITNESSES FOR CHRIST TO “THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”
CHE GUEVERA A REVOLUTIONARY IN CUBA SAID I AM NOT INTERESTED IN A REVOLUTION UNLESS IT CHANGES A PERSON FROM WITHIN.
DOROTHY DAY SAID:"THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF THE DAY IS: HOW TO BRING ABOUT A REVOLUTION OF THE HEART, A REVOLUTION WHICH HAS TO START WITH EACH ONE OF US?"
NO LEADER HAS CHANGED THE HEARTS OF MEN AND WOMEN SO RADICALLY AS THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST.
I CAN PREACH FOR HOURS, BUT I CANNOT POUR OUT GOD’S SPIRIT UPON YOU. THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT THE RESULT OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP OR CHURCH PROGRAMS. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD DOING WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO.
WHENEVER WE APPROACH ANY PROJECT WE DO NOT ASK WHAT CAN I DO. WE ASK WHAT CAN GOD DO. THEN WE WAIT FOR THE OUTPOURING OF HIS SPIRIT. WHEN WE RECEIVE THAT SPIRIT WE ARE CHANGED AND WE ARE NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. OUR MISSION IS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN.
AFTER THE PENTECOST REVOLUTION THE DISCIPLES WERE DIFFERENT MEN. WITH LOVE IN THEIR HEARTS AND FIRE IN THEIR BLOOD THE DISCIPLES MOVED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD CARRIED THE GOOD NEWS THOUGHOUT JUDEA, TO ASIA MINOR AND ACROSS THE MEDITERANEAN TO ROME AND GREECE.
BY THE END OF THE FOURTH CENTURY THERE WERE 34 MILLION CHRISTIANS.
FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS THE PENTECOST REVOLUTION HAS CHANGED THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF MEN AND WOMEN LEADING THEM INTO THE KINGDOM. FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS THE SPIRIT OF JESUS HAS INSPIRED ARMIES OF MEN AND WOMEN TO BRING ABOUT SPIRITUAL, MORAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE.
ON JUNE 3, 2014 POPE FRANCIS SPOKE TO 53,000 CHARISMATICS GATHERED IN THE OLYMPIC STADIUM IN ROME FOR THE CHARISMATIC RENEWAL’S NATIONAL CONVOCATION. IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT POPE FRANCIS REMINDED THE FAITHFUL AND CLERGY THAT WE MUST NOT BE INSPECTORS OF GRACE.
WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT? HE MEANT THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO DECIDE WHO RECEIVES GRACE AND WHO DOES NOT. THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS IN MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES. THE SPIRIT BREATHES WHERE HE WILL.
BECAUSE OF PENTECOST SUNDAY THE EASTER REVOLUTION IS ALIVE AND WELL. JESUS IS ALIVE AND HE IS REACHING OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING SEDUCED BY THE ILLUSIONS OF NEW AGE RELIGIONS. HE IS REACHING OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO ARE ARRIVING IN THE MILLIONS FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY WITH THE HOLY FATHER.
IN RIO DE JANIERO 4 MILLION PEOPLE TURNED UP FOR SUNDAY MASS ON COPACOBANA BEACH. BEFORE THE SERVICE BEGAN NEARLY A 2.5 MILE CRESCENT OF BEACH OVERFLOWED WITH PILGRIMS.
IN JANUARY 2015 SIX MILLION PEOPLE FLOCKED TO RIZAL PARK IN MANILLA FOR THE LAST MASS WITH POPE FRANCIS IN THE PHILLIPINES.
CARDINAL LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE OF THE PHILLIPINES SAID TO POPE FRANCIS: “EVERY FILIPINO WANTS TO GO WITH YOU—NOT TO ROME—BUT TO THE PERIPHERIES: TO THE SHANTIES-- TO PRISON CELLS-- TO HOSPITALS-- TO THE WORLD OF POLITICS, FINANCE, ARTS, SCIENCES, CULTURE, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS. WE WILL GO TO THESE WORLDS TO BRING THE LIGHT OF JESUS, JESUS WHO IS THE CENTER OF YOUR PASTORAL VISIT AND THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CHURCH.
POPE FRANCIS SAID RECENTLY: “WE HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES. THE TROUBLE IS THAT WE HAVE BAD MEMORIES.” THE SPIRIT BREATHES WHERE HE WILL. HE IS ACTIVE IN YOUR LIFE EVERY DAY BUT YOU FORGET THE GRACES YOU RECEIVE OR YOU NEVER RECOGNIZE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE..
EVERY PRIEST WHO HEARS CONFESSIONS—EVERY PRIEST WHO ATTENDS A DYING PERSON KNOWS FIRST HAND THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF JEUS TRANSFORMS LIVES. PRISON CHAPLAINS, HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS AND ARMY CHAPLAINS CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE MIRACLES OF CONVERSION THAT COME ABOUT THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WHEN WE REMEMBER OUR DEAD ESPECIALLY THOSE IN MILITARY SERVICE LISTEN TO HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED A SOLDIER TO PRAY:
THIS PRAYER WAS FOUND IN THE POCKET OF A SOLDIER IN THE BATTLEFIELD:
LOOK GOD I HAVE NEVER SPOKEN TO YOU BUT NOW I WANT TO SAY "HOW DO YOU DO".
YOU SEE GOD THEY TOLD ME YOU DID NOT EXIST AND, LIKE A FOOL I BELIEVED ALL OF THIS.
LAST NIGHT FROM A SHELL HOLE I SAW YOUR SKY.I FIGURED RIGHT THEN THEY HAD TOLD ME A LIE.
HAD I TAKEN THE TIME TO SEE THE THINGS YOU MADE I WOULD KNOW THEY WEREN'T CALLING A SPADE A SPADE.
I WONDER, GOD IF YOU WOULD SHAKE MY HAND.
SOMEHOW, I FEEL THAT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND.
STRANGE, I HAD TO COME TO THIS HELLISH PLACE BEFORE I HAD TIME TO SEE YOUR FACE.
WELL, I GUESS THERE ISN'T MUCH MORE TO SAY BUT I AM GLAD, GOD I MET YOU TODAY.
I GUESS THE ZERO HOUR WILL SOON BE HERE BUT I AM NOT AFRAID SINCE I KNOW YOU ARE NEAR.
THE SIGNAL - WELL, GOD I WILL HAVE TO GO I LOVE YOU LOTS' THIS I WANT YOU TO KNOW.
LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL BE A HORRIBLE FIGHT WHO KNOWS, I MAY COME TO YOUR HOUSE TONIGHT.
THOUGH I WASN'T FRIENDLY WITH YOU BEFORE I WONDER, GOD IF YOU WOULD WAIT AT THE DOOR.
LOOK I AM CRYING, ME SHEDDING TEARS!! I WISH I HAD KNOWN YOU THESE MANY YEARS.
WELL, I WILL HAVE TO GO NOW.
GOD GOODBYE.
STRANGE, SINCE I MET YOU I AM NOT ARAID TO DIE.
SHADES OF LAUGHTER... SHADES OF LOVE CIRCLING ALL OF US... WITH ARMS OF LOVE.
DON'T CRY MOMMA... I LOVE YOU STILL. I ALWAYS HAVE AND I ALWAYS WILL. WHEN YOU CROSS THE BIG DIVIDE I PROMISE... I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE BY YOUR SIDE!
(COPYRIGHT © 1968-2015 MIKE SCHAFERNOCKER USED WITH PERMISSION OF MIKE'S MOM)