In the first reading at Mass over the past weekdays, we have seen the early followers of Jesus live out one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, namely fortitude or courage. Let us remember that after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven they were afraid. He had left them. They knew that authorities who had put him to death would possibly seek to punish his followers as well.

Before the Pentecost event recounted in Acts 2, we find the early followers of Jesus not out preaching the resurrection of Jesus, but rather indoors together. It is not until the Holy Spirit, as tongues of fire, descended upon them that full of newfound courage they went out and publicly proclaimed that Jesus had risen.

In today’s first reading, we find that the authorities had threatened the early followers of Jesus to no longer proclaim his resurrection.

Yet, with great courage and suffering imprisonment and threats of death, they state: “We must obey God rather than men.”

Chances are that our witness to the faith will not face such direct opposition. We will most likely face more subtle opposition from family members who think it well and good for us to attend Mass once a week, but if we get caught up in the Spirit and more fully pursue our Christ Life, we might find them beginning to object. Similarly with friends, who might take offense that we are no longer willing to participate in the wild revelry that was once a regular part of our Friday and Saturday evenings. The work place is another place where we might find subtle opposition. I recall my own days of working in New York City, and facing the disapproval of co-workers who went out for a nice lunch at a NYC restaurant, while I spent my lunch hour attending Mass.

Let us look to the gifts of the Holy Spirit to assist us in our journey. The early followers of Jesus needed great courage or fortitude and so they were given it. My own personal favorite gift of the Holy Spirit is wonder and awe.

What is your favorite gift of the Holy Spirit? Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgement, Courage, Knowledge, Piety, Wonder/Awe. Perhaps you have more than one favorite gift of the Holy Spirit.

As the early followers of Jesus received courage at Pentecost, let us look to the experience of our own Confirmation as the time when we received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

And let us look to today’s Gospel reading, John 3, where we hear that God does not ration the gifts of the Spirit.

The early followers of Jesus needed great courage and they received it in abundance. We too should open our arms and hearts wide to receive an abundance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.