Pentecost reminds us of our calling

As announced by the prophets, Jesus came to establish a new covenant. “Look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall make a new covenant with the House of Israel.” In the old covenant, God gave us the law. In the new covenant, God gives us something better: “The Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.”

05/23/2026

Jeremiah explained the difference by saying: “Within them I shall plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I shall be their God and they will be my people. There will be no further need for everyone to teach neighbour or brother, saying, ‘Learn to know Yahweh!’ No, they will all know me, from the least to the greatest, Yahweh declares, since I shall forgive their guilt and never more call their sin to mind.” God wants everyone to be holy. He wants everyone to be like his Son, Jesus Christ.

On the day of Pentecost, Saint Peter urged people to repent and be baptised. He assured them that this would wash away their sins: “Everyone of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” To explain the gift of the Spirit, he quoted the prophets, who said God would give his grace to all kinds of different people: “I shall pour out my Spirit even on the slaves, men and women.”

In the old covenant, being close to God was a privilege granted to few. To be a priest, one had to be from the tribe of Levi. To be a king, one had to be from the tribe of Judah. In the new covenant, things would be different. Being close to God was open to everyone—not just the priests, prophets and kings. In the new covenant, not everyone is called to be a priest, not everyone is called to be a prophet, not everyone is called to preach or work miracles. But everyone is called to know God, to see him face-to-face and to become a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Celebrating the feast of Pentecost reminds us of the radical call of the Gospel: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus was not speaking to a select group when he said these words. He was speaking to everyone.

Many still think that to be truly holy one has to be a priest, a nun, a preacher or a miracle-worker. No matter what their state in life, God calls all people to be saints. Kiosk owners, lorry drivers, hawkers, football players, movie actors—God calls them all to live holy lives as his children in the middle of the world.

This article by Fr. Joe Babendreier first appeared in the Sunday Nation on 19th May 2013.

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