The third glorious mystery, the descent of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room, is a fundamental event in the history of the Christian Church, marking the birth of the Church and the beginning of its apostolic mission. This event, celebrated at Pentecost, underlines the fulfilment of Jesus' promise to send a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to guide and strengthen his disciples. By meditating on this mystery, we are invited to deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit and renew our commitment to being witnesses to the Gospel.
After Jesus' Ascension, the apostles returned to Jerusalem, as he had asked them to do, and gathered in the Upper Room, where they had shared the Last Supper with Jesus. They are accompanied by Mary, the mother of Jesus, and a few other disciples, united in prayer and expectation of the fulfilment of the divine promise. They pray together, invoking the coming of the Holy Spirit, without knowing exactly how this promise will be fulfilled.
On the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus' Resurrection, an extraordinary event occurs. Suddenly, a sound from heaven, like that of a violent gust of wind, fills the whole house where they are. Tongues of fire appeared and rested on each of them. All were then filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4). This supernatural phenomenon marks the tangible and powerful presence of the Holy Spirit among them.
At this time, Jerusalem is full of pilgrims who have come from different regions to celebrate the Jewish feast of Pentecost. Attracted by the noise, they gather around the Cenacle and are amazed to hear the apostles speaking in their own languages. They marvelled and wondered how these Galileans could speak so distinctly the languages of the Parthians, Medes, Elamites and other peoples from the four corners of the world (Acts 2:5-11). This miracle of glossolalia, or speaking in tongues, symbolises the universality of the Christian message and the Church's mission to reach all nations.
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, then stands up and addresses the crowd. He explains that what is happening is the fulfilment of Joel's prophecy: "It will happen in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh" (Acts 2:17). He proclaimed the death and resurrection of Jesus, affirming that he was the promised Messiah. Convinced by his words and touched by the power of the Spirit, around three thousand people are baptised that day, marking the beginning of the Christian Church (Acts 2:41).
The descent of the Holy Spirit transforms the apostles from fearful disciples into bold witnesses to the Gospel. Driven by divine power, they begin to preach with new confidence, perform miracles, and form communities of believers. The Holy Spirit gives them wisdom, courage, and the gifts necessary to carry out their mission.
As we meditate on this third glorious mystery, we are invited to open our hearts to the action of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. The Holy Spirit continues to guide, comfort and strengthen believers today, inspiring us to live according to the teachings of Jesus and to be witnesses of his love in the world. This mystery reminds us that we are called to be instruments of the Spirit, bearers of peace, joy and truth, building a vibrant and dynamic community of faith.
The descent of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room is a call to renew our faith, to embrace the mission of the Church, and to allow the Spirit to transform our lives. Through the Spirit, we are united into one body, the Church, and we receive the strength to bear witness to Christ's love through our words and actions, thus contributing to the coming of God's Kingdom on earth.
