Today we celebrate Pentecost the birth of the Church by the descend of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate. In Pentecost,  we see the  manifestation of the descent of the Holy Spirit with the strong driving wind, and the tongues of fire but the action of the Holy Spirit was already happening. In the Gospel of John, before Jesus breathe the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, they were locked because of fear of the Jews. The atmosphere was bleak, very somber, too much darkness and too much fear. However, the Lord breathes the Holy Spirit and now they have peace in their lives. It so beautiful to see the connection with the Rite of Peace. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us these two necessary components in the life of the church: unity and peace.  In the account of Luke there is no fear of the Jews, there are no locked doors, they are not in some dark room, because the Holy Spirit was already with them. This certainly is a way that we can reconcile the two accounts of John and Luke about Pentecost. The Lord appeared to them on Easter Sunday and had breathed the Holy Spirit upon them, so they had already experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit and then officially  in Pentecost Sunday. And if we were to add that when Jesus breathed His last, that was also an outpouring of the Holy Spirit we can see that the Holy Spirit came down upon the Church very early on. In the account of Luke (which is in the acts), there are all in one place together. This shows first unity, not disorder, not fear, but organization. They were all in one place, a place where no negative adjectives are given to describe it. But notice that there is no mention of fear or being locked in such a place. One can easily imagine they were in an upper room in a prayerful          atmosphere. And the key word that implies the Holy Spirit was already working in them is they were together. Such a great word to describe the unity they were experiencing. We know we can be in the same building but still be very much apart from each other. When in prayer such great action of the Holy Spirit can be expected, and praying itself is already guided by the Holy Spirit. This outpouring becomes so powerful but let’s not forget the Holy Spirit is already acting. When we look at Pentecost we sometimes focus on the great actions of the Holy Spirit and rightly so but let us not forget what really describes the Holy Spirit is unity and peace. The great work of the Holy Spirit is bringing everybody together whether is Jewish, Greek, or Cretan. The Spirit bring us together under one place, one church united in Christ. Sometimes we want to experience great outward shows of power by the Holy Spirit while all along the Holy Spirit is working, keeping us together united in worship and in peace. Pentecost is fulfilled in our days when we allow the Holy Spirit to unite us in his love as a whole family of God. Together, united let move onward with  Holy Spirit, making this a new  Pentecost.