TUESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

They were cut to the heart. 

Imagine yourself in that crowd on Pentecost. You hear a rush of wind, and all of a sudden, a group of Jesus’ disciples is “speaking in [their] own tongues of the mighty acts of God” (Acts 2:11). Then Peter stands up and lays out a compelling explanation of what you are seeing and hearing. He talks about Jesus’ signs and teachings, along with the testimony of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Just then, you feel “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). Something—or Someone—inside you is stirring, convincing you that Jesus of Nazareth truly is “Lord and Christ” (2:36). A mixture of joy and urgency floods your heart. You long to repent, welcome Jesus into your heart, and be baptized.

What just happened? Sure, you were struck by Peter’s urgency, but something deeper was going on. The Holy Spirit was at work! Peter’s words came alive in your heart, and you knew you had to respond to what you just heard.

In his 1975 apostolic exhortation on evangelization, Pope St. Paul VI described it this way: “The Holy Spirit places on [the evangelizer’s] lips the words which he could not find by himself, and at the same time the Holy Spirit predisposes the soul of the hearer to be open and receptive to the Good News” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 75).

This is great news, especially for those of us who might shy away from the call to share our faith. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate evangelizer, not us. When you greet a neighbor or coworker, the Spirit is already there, communicating the joy of the Lord. When you offer words of compassion to a friend facing hardship, the Spirit is there, helping your friend to sense Christ’s love through you. And when the opportunity arises for you to share “a reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15), the Spirit is there, giving life to your words, just as he did for Peter on the day of Pentecost.

Never underestimate the power of the Spirit! He is always with you, ready to give you courage and boldness. And he always goes ahead of you, preparing the hearts of the people you will meet today. The more you learn to yield to him, the more powerfully you’ll see him work.

“Holy Spirit, teach me how to share the power and promise of the gospel!”

Acts 2:36-41
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22
John 20:11-18