Pentecost Sunday. June 4, 2017 [John 20:19-23]
“Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them… (Jn 20:22-23)”
Pentecost is the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples in the upper room. The usual images we have in our mind are usually dramatic and vivid. The disciples gathered in the upper room, suddenly the strong wind filled the room, followed by the appearance of the tongues of fire. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the disciples began to speak various languages, and proclaimed the Gospel. This depiction of Pentecost comes from the Acts of Apostles (our first reading today). The same Acts tells us that Pentecost took place 50 days after Easter Sunday (Pentecost itself simply means ‘50’ in Greek).
However, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in today’s Gospel from John gives us a slightly different image from that of the Acts. It is less dramatic, less lively, and less miraculous. There was no strong wind, no tongues of fires that rested on the disciples’ heads, no awesome ability to speak various languages. Only Jesus and His disciples. Yet, if we look closely on Jesus’ actions and words as well as the context of the story, the Pentecost that it represents is a poignant and transformative image.
The disciples locked themselves inside the room because of fear of the Jews. Their master just was executed, and they were afraid that the Jewish authorities and the Roman soldiers would also arrest them. But, it is also possible that they were actually afraid that risen Jesus would get back on them. They deserted Jesus when He was seized, persecuted and sentenced to death. They ran away when He was humiliated on the cross and died as a shameful criminal. It was a payback time, and Jesus could throw them to fire of hell in an instant. Yet, Jesus came not to exact vengeance, but to offer peace. He came not to satisfy His wrath, but to give them the Holy Spirit. This Spirit is the spirit of forgiveness, the power to heal, and the energy to unity. It also the Spirit of mission, of their being sent by Jesus. Indeed, Jesus bore the wounds in His body, but despite His wounds and pains, Jesus forgave them and empowered them to forgive in His Holy Spirit. Jesus showed them that violence only breeds violence, and vengeance causes more harm, and only forgiveness can bring true peace.
In our world today, many of us are hurt by violent words and actions of others, aggravated by the silence of good people. The natural tendency is to be angry and seek for justice. Yet, often, what happens is that we nurture the anger and hatred, and wait until the right time to vent this wrath in even more violent ways. But, keeping anger and hatred destroys nobody except ourselves. We become restless, stressed, and sick. Without realizing it, we become just like those who have hurt us. Pentecost is not just a commemoration of what happened in early Christianity, we need Pentecost right now and here. We pray for the Holy Spirit who empowers us to forgive others and ourselves, for the Spirit of Jesus who brings true peace and justice, for the Spirit of God who heals our brokenness.
Blessed Pentecost!
Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP



Pentakosta adalah peringatan turunnya Roh Kudus atas para murid di ruang atas. Gambaran yang ada di dalam pikiran kita biasanya dramatis dan nyata. Murid-murid berkumpul di ruang atas, tiba-tiba angin kencang memenuhi ruangan, diikuti oleh munculnya lidah-lidah api. Terinspirasi oleh Roh Kudus, para murid mulai berbicara dalam berbagai bahasa, dan memberitakan Injil. Gambaran Pentakosta ini benar adanya karena ini berasal dari Kisah Para Rasul (bacaan pertama kita hari ini). Sebenarnya, Kisah Para Rasul juga mengatakan bahwa Pentakosta terjadi 50 hari setelah hari Minggu Paskah (Pentakosta sendiri berarti ’50’ dalam bahasa Yunani).


Gambaran tentang Kenaikan Yesus yang ada dalam benak kita adalah Yesus yang diangkat ke langit, sementara para murid dengan penuh doa memperhatikan-Nya menghilang secara perlahan-lahan. Tidak salah jika disebut ‘Kenaikan’ Yesus karena Kristus yang telah bangkit akhirnya naik ke surga, kembali kepada Bapa-Nya. Di dalam film Risen, Kenaikan Yesus digambarkan sedikit berbeda. Yesus tidak diangkat ke surga, tapi Dia hanya berdiri di hadapan para murid-Nya, dan tiba-tiba cahaya yang menyilaukan datang dan menelan Yesus, dan Diapun menghilang dari pandangan mereka. Meskipun memiliki rincian yang berbeda, Kenaikan Yesus berbicara kepada kita tentang Yesus yang memisahkan diri dari murid-murid-Nya, dan meninggalkan mereka karena Ia harus kembali kepada Bapa-Nya.
Have you seen a spirit? When the word ‘spirit’ is mentioned, what image does appear in your mind? Perhaps, scary ghosts from some urban legends or Hollywood horror movies. The word ‘spirit’ conjures terrifying and often creepy images because it is related with the dead, the afterlife, and unexplained paranormal phenomenon. The Church herself warrants the existence of evil spirit or the demons, as the Church fights them through the ministry of exorcism.
Pernahkah kamu melihat roh? Atau, jika anda kata roh disebutkan, gambaran apa yang muncul di benak Anda? Mungkin, hantu-hantu menakutkan dari beberapa cerita-cerita atau film horor Hollywood, atau sesuatu yang diluar kekuatan manusia dan tidak bisa dijelaskan. Kata ‘roh’ seringkali memunculkan gambaran yang mengerikan dan menyeramkan karena selalu berhubungan dengan kematian, dunia akhirat, dan fenomena paranormal yang tidak dapat dijelaskan.
Jesus was about to leave His disciples and go back to His Father. The disciples were confused and failed to understand. Some were afraid of losing their Messiah. Some were puzzled by the actions of Jesus. Yet, despite this confusion and fear, Jesus reminded them not be troubled and to have faith in God and in Him.
Yesus hendak meninggalkan murid-murid-Nya dan kembali kepada Bapa-Nya. Para murid bingung dan tidak mengerti. Beberapa takut kehilangan Mesias dan guru mereka. Beberapa tidak mengerti dengan tindakan dan perkataan Yesus. Namun, terlepas dari kebingungan dan ketakutan ini, Yesus mengingatkan mereka agar tidak merasa cemas dan tetap memiliki iman kepada Allah dan kepada-Nya.
Jesus is not the gatekeeper, but Jesus is the gate Himself. A gate or a door gives a passage or access to a sheepfold, a house, a building or a room. It both separates and connects the insiders and the outsiders. In fact, the gate is as essential as the house itself. What is the building without a door or an entry point? It is either a construction error or it is not a sheepfold or a house at all. The gate is not only an accessory to the house, but it also defines the house itself. Is it an accessible house, locked house or not a house at all?
Yesus bukanlah sekedar penjaga pintu gerbang, tetapi Yesus adalah sang pintu gerbang. Pintu gerbang atau pintu memberi jalan atau akses ke kandang domba, rumah, bangunan atau ruangan. Pintu memisahkan sekaligus menghubungkan orang dalam dan orang luar. Pintu sama pentingnya dengan rumah itu sendiri. Apa jadinya jika bangunan tanpa pintu masuk? Ini adalah kesalahan konstruksi atau bukan sebuah gedung sama sekali. Pintu bukan hanya aksesori dari sebuah rumah, tapi adalah definisi sebuah rumah. Melalui pintunya, kita bisa menilai apakah rumah ini yang mudah diakses, rumah terkunci atau bukan rumah sama sekali?