Unpacking The Mass with Keith Nester

Episode: June 5, 2022 Readings – "It's Not About You! - Understanding Pentecost"
Date: June 2, 2022

Overview

In this episode of "Unpacking the Mass," Keith Nester explores the upcoming Sunday’s Catholic Mass readings centered around Pentecost. Keith unpacks Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 12, and John 20, offering practical insight into the role of the Holy Spirit, the meaning of unity in the Church, and the true nature of our mission as Christians. With a conversational and engaging tone, he challenges listeners to reflect not only on their individual spiritual gifts but also on the shared purpose of the Church, emphasizing that, ultimately, "God's mission is not about you."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pentecost in Acts 2: The Birth of the Church

[00:01 – 07:10]

• The Scene: The apostles gather in unity as the Holy Spirit descends as tongues of fire, enabling them to speak in many languages (Acts 2).
  • “They were all together in one place. And I think that's very significant...” (Keith, 02:15)
• Unity’s Significance: Keith stresses the importance of togetherness at Pentecost, contrasting the original unity with the later divisions in the Church.
  • “This unity that was so integral to the life of the early church and to the mission of the gospel. Friends, that unity has been lost. And I believe our witness has as well.” (Keith, 03:30)
• Mission Origin: The mission is not self-created; God gives the mission and empowers the Church, not vice versa.
  • The apostles don’t craft their own purpose—their mission comes from Christ.
• Concentric Mission: The Gospel is meant to radiate outward from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, but always from the central authority and unity of the apostles.

2. Three Main Pentecost Takeaways

[07:10 – 15:50]

• 1. We Don't Create Our Own Mission
  • “God has the mission and that the church belongs to it. That’s a fundamental idea.” (Keith, 07:50)
• 2. The Mission Is Empowered by the Holy Spirit
  • God distinctly calls us to assignments we cannot accomplish without His empowerment.
  • “If your personal mission is within your power, then it's not big enough.” (Keith, 09:25)
• 3. God's Mission Isn't About Us
  • Shifting from self-focus to an outward focus: the mission serves those not yet included in the Church.
  • “God did not come and die on a cross for you just to be okay. He came to make you a saint.” (Keith, 11:20)
  • Suffering and sacrifice are essential to the Church’s mission, likening the apostles’ challenges to modern-day struggles.

3. Psalm 104: Prayer for Renewal

[15:51 – 17:10]

• The responsorial psalm is a communal call for the Holy Spirit to renew the world.
  • “Lord, send out your spirit and renew the face of the earth. Amen.” (Keith, 16:05)
• The Spirit works through the Church to transform and renew, emphasizing collective action.

4. 1 Corinthians 12: One Spirit, Many Gifts, One Body

[17:11 – 28:45]

• Unity Amid Diversity: The same Spirit gives different gifts and forms of service.
  • “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit ... different forms of service, but the same Lord.” (Keith quoting Paul, 17:40)
• Individual Callings: Diversity in gifting is not a cause for division but reason for celebration.
  • Keith illustrates this with examples like music preferences at Mass and different ministry priorities.
  • “What’s important to one may not be as important to the other, and that’s okay. What matters is that the spirit behind it is the same spirit.” (Keith, 20:55)
• Knowing Your Gifts: Spiritual self-knowledge involves honest assessment of what God has and hasn’t called you to do.
• Working Together: Every part of the Body of Christ is needed; ministry is never solitary.
  • “Remember, we're all part of the body ... That's why Jesus didn't just send one apostle.” (Keith, 25:50)

5. The Sequence: Prayer to the Holy Spirit

[28:46 – 31:30]

• Keith highlights the poetic “Come Holy Spirit” (the Sequence), emphasizing the Spirit's role as comforter, restorer, and the one who empowers.

6. John 20: The Practical Work of the Holy Spirit

[31:31 – 44:10]

• Peace and Sending: Jesus appears to the disciples, bestows peace, and commissions them:
  • “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)
• The Incarnational Model: Just as Jesus was sent in the flesh, the apostles are sent to be "Jesus with skin on."
  • “We need Jesus with skin on ... Go find your priest. And when he’s operating in that sacramental place of confession, he is Jesus with skin on.” (Keith, 36:10)
• Forgiveness and Authority: Jesus explicitly grants the authority to forgive sins—tied to the reception of the Holy Spirit.
• Sacramental Life: The Church’s authority and mission are of divine, not human, origin.
• Avoiding Distraction by Human Weakness: Don’t dismiss the Church's authority because of human flaws; the Spirit acts through imperfect people.
  • “But he's not just like you. He's been sent by the authority and power of Jesus Christ.” (Keith, 41:00)
• Danger of Private Interpretation: Personal discernment must align with the tradition and teaching of the Church.
  • “The Holy Spirit is not suffering from multiple personality disorders or schizophrenia ... When someone says to you an idea or a doctrine that contradicts what he’s given to the Church ... you got to question that.” (Keith, 43:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If your personal mission is within your power, then it's not big enough.”
  — Keith, [09:25]
• “God did not come and die on a cross for you just to be okay. He came to make you a saint.”
  — Keith, [11:20]
• “God’s mission isn’t about us. Did you know that? And I know that may be a shock to some people because we tend to think that everything's about us, but when it comes to the mission of God, it's not about you.”
  — Keith, [11:50]
• “What’s important to one may not be as important to the other, and that’s okay. What matters is that the spirit behind it is the same spirit.”
  — Keith, [20:55]
• “We need Jesus with skin on ... Go find your priest.”
  — Keith, [36:10]
• “The Holy Spirit is not suffering from multiple personality disorders or schizophrenia ... When someone says to you an idea or a doctrine that contradicts what he’s given to the Church ... you got to question that.”
  — Keith, [43:10]

Important Timestamps

• [00:01] Introduction & Opening Reading from Acts 2
• [03:30] The importance of unity in the early Church vs. modern divisions
• [07:50] Three core Pentecost lessons
• [09:25] Mission must be bigger than oneself
• [11:50] God’s mission is not about us
• [16:05] Psalm 104: “Lord, send out your spirit and renew the face of the earth”
• [17:40] 1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual gifts and unity
• [20:55] Handling different priorities within the Church
• [25:50] The necessity of working together in ministry
• [28:46] The Sequence: “Come Holy Spirit”
• [31:31] Gospel of John 20: Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on the apostles
• [36:10] Incarnational authority: “Jesus with skin on”
• [43:10] Handling divergent doctrines—stay within the Spirit’s unified mission

Conclusion

Keith closes by urging listeners to let the Holy Spirit work within them—not for their own sake, but for the mission of bringing Christ to others. He reminds us that the Church’s authority, unity, and sacramental life are gifts from God, made real by the Spirit’s continuing presence. Listeners are challenged to discern their gifts, embrace unity, and resist a self-centered approach to faith.

“May the Lord send his Spirit to you and renew the face of the earth and renew your own heart, my friends.” (Keith, [final segment])

If you want to go deeper, listen to the full episode or watch Keith on YouTube!