Daily pentecosts
Barry Cairns
Fr Barry Cairns tells us how he came to understand the meaning of Pentecost.
Twenty-five years ago I began my second missionary journey. I had been away from Japan and its difficult language for 16 years. During my first missionary journey (1956-1969) I had been stationed in the far south in fishing villages. The language had been unsophisticated, not yet influenced by the then newly-arrived TV programmes.
On my return to Japan I was appointed to Fujisawa, a large city just 50kms from Tokyo. Both the language and the culture were different. For me this second exposure to culture-shock was far, far deeper than my first. Here, back in Japan, bursting with missionary zeal and I could express the Gospel message only in inadequate language. I was lost! I was confused! I was a ship adrift in a storm of the heart! I felt useless as both priest and missionary. I didn't want to go out of my room. If I did, I would have to meet people and they would use words I didn't know! I felt it would be better to return to my own country where there was a shortage of priests. At least I could speak English! But yet I still strongly felt this call to mission in Japan.
Then I had my mini-Pentecost!
Before the first Pentecost Jesus had given a mission to His disciples: ‘Go to the whole world.' But there they were, full of fear, with a feeling of powerlessness, too frightened even to open the barred door of the upper room. They thought they had to fulfil Jesus' wishes by their own human strength alone. (Their problem and reaction were the same as mine!) So, with Mary in their midst, they prayed and waited for the promised Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who gave them courage and who taught them the deep meaning of Jesus' promises:
"Fear not, I am with you always" (Matt. 28:20).
"You cannot do anything without me" (Jn 15:5).
"The Holy Spirit will teach you what to say" (Lk 12:12).
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you... then you tell everyone about me... everyone in the world" (Acts 1:8).
At first, with help, I wrote out every word of my homilies and Bible classes and I would then read my text. After a while I found myself not needing to read. Still later, all I needed in front of me was just an outline plan of the class or homily. These were still very basic in language and content.
Sometimes I wouldn't know the right word so I would go around it by describing the context with my limited vocabulary. I used many visual aids. (I still do!)
One Sunday our Regional Director, a skilled linguist, celebrated our evening Mass and I was preaching. After Mass he said to me in the sacristy, "My word! That was certainly rough, basic Japanese!" Then, as an afterthought, he added: "but you sure got the message across!" I took this as a compliment to the Holy Spirit. For me his offhand remark was a mini-Pentecost.
Some 24 years later I am still nervous about standing before people. To tell the truth, sometimes I wake up in the morning nervous just about facing the day! That nervousness now reminds me that I am the instrument of Jesus and that He is with me. I ask Him to send the Holy Spirit because He is where strength and courage come from. I feel that this attitude applies to all facets of our everyday lives - not just the ‘holy' times.
For me, this is the meaning of Pentecost today.
