Dear friends,
After forty days of the Lenten journey and fifty days of Easter joy, we celebrate in June in our community the Feast of Pentecost – the Descent of the Holy Spirit. It is the culmination of a period when we have learned to listen to God in silence, rejoice in Christ's resurrection, and open our hearts to a new beginning. Pentecost is not just a reminder of a distant event, but a living reality that transforms us and encourages us to have courage, cooperate, and be open. The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised us and sent after His ascension to the Father, is still present among us – teaching us, reminding us of Jesus' words, and giving us strength for a new life.
However, we must not forget that this whole period stems from the cross of Christ. It is precisely on the cross that Jesus shows us how much He loves us. As Professor Ctirad Václav Pospíšil reminds us, the cross is not only a tool of salvation but also the highest revelation of God's love. In this climactic event of salvation history, God reveals His face and invites us to a deeper relationship. Jesus' death and resurrection are the foundation of our faith and the reason for our joy.
As we will hear on the Sunday of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the disciples experienced a sound from heaven and a mighty wind that filled the entire house where they were sitting. When that sound occurred, many people gathered and were amazed. (Acts 2:1–11) Jerusalem was experiencing a sensation that day. The author of the Acts of the Apostles goes on to describe something special: tongues like fire that separated and rested on each of them. What does all this mean and how does it speak to us?
Pentecost is also a call to transformation. The Holy Spirit is a gift that leads us to action – often through simple things like a willingness to cooperate, the courage to step out among people, and the ability to remain in relationships. Evangelization, which I also wrote about in my thesis, is not just the passing on of information, but primarily a process of heart transformation. The Holy Spirit urges us to be open, to build trust and relationships, and thus witness to the joyful message.
As James Mallon, author of the book "Changing the Parish," says, a disciple is one who continually learns, who desires knowledge, and wants to grow. This enthusiasm comes from the experience of the living Christ and openness to the Holy Spirit. Our small community in a big mountain city is a place where this transformation can happen – where we learn to live the gospel in our everyday lives, to be witnesses of God's love, and to create space for all who desire to know Jesus.
I wish for all of us that during these days of Pentecost, we may experience a new strength of the Holy Spirit, courage for witnessing, and joy in being God’s children. Thank you for your acceptance, friendship, and shared journey of faith.
With gratitude
Lukáš Němeček
