The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of promise. Just as Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Anointed One, so the Spirit is the Anointing One. We read in Isaiah 61:1: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me.”  The promise was affirmed by the prophet Joel 2:28 “And after this, it will happen that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy; your elders will dream dreams, and your youths will see visions.”

The coming of the Spirit of promise was revealed by Jesus to the Apostles at the Last Supper.  Before he ascended Jesus instructed them to wait for the promise of the Father. On Pentecost that promise was fulfilled as they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  That same promise and gift, the Spirit, was given us when we were baptized and anointed with the Oil of Chrism. Later, when we were confirmed we were anointed with the same Oil of Chrism to be witnesses of Jesus to the world. What kind of disciple/witness have we been over the years? As we prepare for Pentecost, we need to ask for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit of promise, so that we can fulfill our call. Come, Holy Spirit, come.