Gospel-Homily for Solemnity of Pentecost (2025)

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The Truth Is in the Details.

“Help! Help!” That is what my brother heard in his home. At first, he thought it was the TV, but he discovered that a man had fallen out of his canoe and was drowning in the frigid waters of the lake. He quickly ran over to his neighbor, who had a dinghy. When they reached the man, his head was completely submerged in the water. But they pulled him out alive. Meanwhile, my brother’s wife called 911. When the fire department arrived, they took over the rescue. The next day, there was a newspaper article that stated that the first responders had arrived and the fire department had saved the man and treated his hypothermia. There was no mention of my brother, the neighbor, the dinghy, the body of the man slipping under the water, and being pulled out. All the crucial details were missing from the story. Again, I wonder how many of the details are missing in other newspapers.
I often hear the statement “the devil is in the details.” Instead, the truth is in the details. If you were to give me directions and forget to tell me to take exit five off the highway. I will not arrive at my destination. You may counter and tell me, “It is just a detail.” But I need all the details.  Details are important.

That is why the Holy Spirit is so vital in our lives. They call the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth. That is, we get everything we need to know to be saved. All the details to get to our final destination.

St. Paul was in Corinth, which was smack in the middle of the Roman Empire. He wrote to the Romans telling them his travel itinerary. His plan was to travel to the furthest end of the Empire, to Jerusalem, and drop off some money that he collected for the poor Christians suffering from a drought. Then he would jump in a boat to Rome, gather provisions, and head out to Spain to proclaim the Gospel there. This is an insane plan because in the ancient world, there were no airports and Uber. Why is he so intent on going to Spain? I will tell you. If I were living in Spain during the first century and no one had told me about Christ and His message, no one had told me that I had access to eternal life, or given the opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit and be able live in a way that will fulfill my life I would have been very upset. Paul is driven by the urgency to spread the details. It is not just about receiving valuable information; it is about giving it, with all the details.