As we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost in this Jubilee Year of Hope, we return spiritually to the Upper Room in Jerusalem, where the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire. That moment was not only the birth of the Church; it was also the beginning of a mission that continues to this very day.
This year, Pope Francis invited the whole Church to live a Jubilee of Hope. It is a time of recommitment to the mission entrusted to us at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit, poured out at that first Pentecost, still calls us to be courageous witnesses of the Gospel, to proclaim Christ in word and in action, and to live as signs of hope in a world that is often clouded by fear, division, and despair.
On that first Pentecost, the disciples were transformed from frightened men hiding behind locked doors into bold proclaimers of the Resurrection. The same Spirit that came upon them now dwells in the Church, in our communities, and in each one of us. As Saint Paul reminds us, “The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
But how often do we still find ourselves held back by fear, fear of speaking the truth, fear of being rejected, fear for our families, our Church, and our future? And yet, the Lord says to each of us, as He did to His disciples, “Do not be afraid. I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Let us not remain locked in the upper room. Let us go out into the world, filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and bring hope to those around us. Pentecost is not just a celebration for one day in the year; it must become a way of life. We must promote a culture of Pentecost in our Church and society. This means being a people who listen to the Spirit, who welcome His gifts, and who allow ourselves to be constantly renewed in prayer and mission.
When I entered the novitiate of the Lebanese Maronite Order, I believed that renewal in the Church would come through better planning, management and administration. But after more than 30 years of priesthood, I have come to understand that true renewal only comes from prayer and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church, the source of her holiness, her mission, and her unity. It is the Spirit who leads the Church into all truth, who convicts hearts, who sanctifies through the sacraments, and who gives each believer the grace to live in communion with God and with one another.
The Church will not be renewed by louder voices, by sharper arguments, or by clever strategies. It will be renewed by hearts open to the Spirit, minds formed in the Gospel, and lives rooted in holiness. Every time we celebrate the sacraments, we are renewed in the Spirit. These are not merely rituals or customs, but real encounters with the living God who sends us forth to be light in the world.
In this Jubilee Year, we are called to be bearers of hope. Hope is not naive optimism. It is the certainty that Christ has conquered death and that His love is stronger than sin. To live in hope is to act with courage even when the outcome is unclear. It is to believe in the possibilities of grace even when our world seems dark. Christian hope is not based on circumstances but is anchored in the promise of Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Our Church, particularly our Maronite Eparchy here in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, is invited to live this hope in action. Through our liturgies, our families, our schools, our parishes and our service to the vulnerable, we become instruments of the Spirit’s work in the world. We are called to build a Church that is united, missionary, and joyful, bearing witness not only through words but through actions.
Let us remember the words of the prophet Zechariah: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). It is not by our strength alone, but by the Spirit of God, that we will renew our Church and bring hope to our society.
On this great Feast of Pentecost, we join our voices with the whole Church and cry out: Come, Holy Spirit! Come and renew our hearts. Come and rekindle in us the fire of your love. Come and make us faithful witnesses of hope in a world thirsting for light.