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Every family has its little traditions, inside jokes, and secret recipes—those things that bind us together and give a sense of identity. Often, they’re simple things, but they carry deep meaning. In my family, one of our long-running traditions is giving gag gifts at Christmas. I know lots of families do that, but in ours, it has become serious business. Some relatives spend the whole year scouting the perfect prank gift. What’s especially fun now is seeing the grandkids get excited about it—waiting for the day when they, too, can join in the ritual. There’s something very human and beautiful about passing things on: a tradition, a story, a little treasure.
Speaking of treasures, there’s another sacred family heirloom in my household: my mom’s icing recipe. It’s legendary. A rich, fluffy, sweet-and-salty masterpiece that’s graced more birthday cakes than I can count. But here’s the catch—she refuses to share the recipe. No matter how much we plead. We've even sent in the grandkids as spies to watch her make it, but she always catches them and shuts down the operation. Her reasoning? She says this is her “bargaining chip”—a way to make sure we keep visiting her and don’t send her to “the wrong nursing home.” I’ve agreed to those terms, with one condition: she must leave the recipe in a safe deposit box for us to open after she’s gone. So far, no agreement. But what a shame it would be for something so good, so central to our celebrations, to be lost!
That desire to pass something on—something too good to keep to yourself—is at the heart of Pentecost.
Jesus spent three years pouring truth, wisdom, and love into his disciples. He taught them how to pray, how to see God as a Father, how to live a life of sacrifice and meaning. Even before Pentecost, his words had already changed their lives. But until the coming of the Holy Spirit, those gifts were still “in-house”—still private. Pentecost is the moment when everything Jesus gave them became sharable and entered the public domain. The Spirit turned their memories into mission, their faith into proclamation. Without Pentecost, the gifts Jesus gave might have died with that first generation. And what a tragedy that would have been.
But thank God, the Spirit was given—and is still being poured out in the lives and hearts of all who have baptized.
Pentecost isn’t just a story of the past. It’s a reality we’re living. The same Spirit who descended on the apostles now lives in every faithful Christian. The Spirit equips us—each of us—in different ways and desires to activate the many blessings he has poured into our lives. We are called today to ask: What spiritual gifts have I received? How has God worked through others to shape my faith? Who are the mentors, parents, teachers, or friends who passed something on to you—not a recipe, but wisdom, prayer, compassion, joy?
And then, the next question: Am I passing these on? Because the gifts of God are never meant to stop with us. They are meant to move through us—for the sake of the Church, for the sake of souls who haven’t even been born yet. For our good and the good of all his holy Church!
So how do we do that? How does Pentecost shape real life?
I’d say: keep it simple. God loves to work through the ordinary. He stirs in our relationships, our routines, our quiet efforts to live faithfully. Maybe you’re a student or professional trying to live with integrity. A spouse striving to be patient and present. A loyal friend offering kindness. A parent passing on the faith. That’s where Pentecost lives. Most of us won’t be called to change the world. But all of us are called to live in such a way that the Spirit can change someone’s world through us.
When I look back at my own family, I am humbled by what they’ve passed on to me: a strong work ethic, a deep faith, a sense of humor, the ability to laugh even in hard times, and a steadfast love that didn’t vanish when I messed up. I want to honor them by passing those things on. I want others to benefit from the goodness I’ve received.
Shouldn’t we feel the same with God?
God has poured out so much: mercy, grace, wisdom, and love—through His Son, through the Spirit, through His Church. Let’s not let any of it go to waste or end with us. As we celebrate Pentecost with the Church around the world, let’s commit ourselves to sharing what we’ve received. Let’s live lives that pass on what is good, holy, and grace-filled—trusting that by doing so, we are helping to build the Church, not just for today, but for generations to come.