On the first Easter, the disciples gathered in the upper room and locked the doors “for fear of the jews.” [cf John 21:19]

Despite most of them having seen the resurrected Christ, a week later they still locked the doors. [cf John 21:26.]

On Pentecost they were again gathered and filled with the Holy Spirit. Then everything changed. These same disciples who had beer fearful burst out into the street proclaiming the Gospel so loudly, so enthusiastically, that the people thought they were drunk. Now I’m not sure exactly what it says about our early Church fathers that they replied with, “No, it’s only 9:00 in the morning, we don’t start drinking this early.” [cf Acts 2:15].

Peter proclaimed the basic message of the faith which we call the Kerygma. He did it in such a way that by the end of the chapter the people were “cut to the heart” and about three thousand were baptized that day. [cf Acts 2:37-41].

Have you ever thought about the logistics of that? The disciples started the morning locked away in the upper room, and then that day they had to go through the process of getting three thousand people baptized. One Easter Vigil we baptized 25 during the Mass and everyone was talking about that for weeks leading up to it. That day it was about 250 baptisms per Apostle and no one had ordered candles or supplies.

So what did Peter say to so inspire 3,000 people. Perhaps he said, “We were faithful to Jesus Jesus so we will be called Apostles. You will be called laity and it will e you job, your task, your responsibility to ‘pray, pay and obey.’” But the scriptures don’t record that inspiring discourse.

Instead, Peter began to quote scripture. But he didn’t quote Abraham or Moses or Elijah. Instead he quoted an obscure prophet named Joel who said:

The day is coming, and is now at hand,

when I will pour out my spirit upon my people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men will dream dreams.

Even slaves will receive my spirit

and they will prophesy.” 

[cf Acts 2-17-18; Joel 3:1-2]

That way Peter’s visions statement for the Church. One where every single person receives the Holy Spirit. One in which every single member is expected to receive vision and dream dreams. No one is excluded, not even a slave. That’s inspiring, that’s joyful that’s a message about being part of something big in direct relationship with God. That’s something people wanted so badly that about 3,000 were baptized that day. 

If we really want to live the vision of Peter, we have to expect that the Holy Spirit will inspire His people. Is that something we really expect? Are we designed as Church to expect that inspiration and answers and truth will come from the people of God?

Upon visiting a parish, Monsignor Thomas McGread told the leaders that they were so well organized and planned that there was no room for the Holy Spirit. 

This very purpose of this organization and this website is to help in that organization and structure. To be willing to listen to the Holy Spirit and act in such a way that the people in the streets will see the fruits of our effort [cf 7:20] just as the fruits of the first Pentecost were seen that day.