Here’s a recap of this episode of The Inner Life where Patrick Conley and Fr. Joseph Johnson explore the powerful, personal presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, all through the lens of Pentecost. You can listen to the entire hour here.
🕊️ What Even Is Pentecost?
Fr. Johnson kicks things off (or lets the Spirit do it 😄) by unpacking Pentecost:
“Pentecost” means fifty; it’s 50 days after Easter. Jesus promised He’d send the Holy Spirit after His Ascension. And guess what? He actually meant it! It wasn’t an easy goodbye. The apostles, still reeling from the trauma of the crucifixion and the rollercoaster joy of the Resurrection, had to trust that Jesus’ leaving was actually for their good.
Real Talk: Jesus leaving felt like a loss, but it made room for something deeper… the indwelling of God Himself. Enter: the Holy Spirit.
🔥 The Holy Spirit Makes Bold Witnesses
Fr. Johnson explains:
Before Pentecost, the apostles were hiding.
After Pentecost, they were on fire and boldly preaching in public.
👉 Key Point: People don’t die for made-up myths. The apostles knew Jesus was real, and the Holy Spirit gave them the courage to stake their lives on it.
He calls Pentecost an inflection point, where God’s Spirit begins to dwell in us.
Baptism: An Adoption
This was a theological mic-drop moment:
John the Baptist’s baptism = repentance.
Christian baptism = adoption. Identity. Power.
It’s about being filled. The Spirit doesn’t just clean us up; He moves in and renovates the house 🏡.
Holiness Is Not Rule-Following
Fr. Johnson lovingly challenges the “checklist Catholic” mindset.
🎯 You’re not called to be a rule robot. You’re called to union with God. That means the spiritual life is mystical, not mechanical.
And yes, it’s mind-boggling. But it’s also the only thing worth living for.
🔥 Martyrs, Miracles, and Modern-Day Pentecost
Fr. Johnson tells a jaw-dropping story:
A priest in Iraq is captured by ISIS. A militant tries to behead him… but can’t, because something is holding his arm back.
That, folks, is the Holy Spirit in real-time. Not just 2,000 years ago… but today.
“Red is for the blood of martyrs… and for the Holy Spirit. Because you can’t have one without the other.”
Martyrdom doesn’t come from raw courage. It comes from supernatural grace.
💡 So… How Do You Let the Holy Spirit Transform You?
Fr. Johnson says:
🗓️ Start with your morning: “Thank you, Lord, for this day. I give it back to You.”
💬 Be attentive: Every moment is an opportunity to love, serve, and be transformed.
🔥 Avoid distractions: We often “tame” the Spirit, giving Him our scraps of time. But He’s not looking for a cameo; He wants to lead the whole show.
🎯 Big Truth: You are called to spiritual greatness. Not maybe. Not later. Now.
✝️ Final Challenge: No More Comfortable Mediocrity
Fr. Johnson ends with a spiritual gut-punch (in the best way):
“To say ‘I could never be like the Saints’ is a cop-out. And worse… it’s an insult to the Holy Spirit within you.”
Let that one marinate.
You’re not meant to coast through life hoping for heaven. You’re meant to set the world on fire. 🔥
As St. Catherine of Siena said: “Be who God made you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”
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