It had been nine days since He had left them. He promised that He would be with them always, that He would send an Advocate for them--but that was nine days ago; perhaps Thomas was right to doubt.
Very little light streamed into that upper room in Jerusalem; when Mary had taken them there a few disciples made sure their presence would not be known, for all of them were wanted "Dead or alive." The fear that kept them there, holed up, uncertain, eventually led to anger, to bickering. Each and every time Mary called them to prayer, helped them to remember her Son's love and abiding presence. Evening came and morning followed; still they waited.
Although it was Midday it suddenly became pitch dark, the sounds from the streets below could no longer be heard. Then from above a noise "like a strong driving wind" erupted, "and it filled the entire house in which they were." As tongues of fire danced about their heads, they received the Holy Spirit, the promised Advocate which would strengthen them, give them the resolve necessary not only to live as Jesus had taught them, but to spread His love to all nations, so that all may share in His glory.
They remembered His words to them: "But when He comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth" (John 16:13). Let us remember the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, that which comes from the Father and the Son, which was breathed into us at Baptism, that which sealed and claimed us as Christ's, and that which prompts, guides, and assists us to be sons and daughters of the Father, disciples of the Son, and filled with the Holy Spirit.As the disciples burst forth from that room fifty days after the Resurrection, filled with the Spirit and courageous in preaching of His love, may we, too, receive the Holy Spirit, allowing nothing to stand between us and leading others to the Kingdom!