On June 6, 1944, 160,000 allied troops landed in Normandy, France, to begin the liberation of mainland Europe from Nazi Germany occupation. The invasion was the result of months of planning, logistics, and most importantly, secrecy. Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke the following words: “Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41… The tide has turned.” We can apply these words to another invasion that happened two thousand years ago: Pentecost.
On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles. He invaded enemy occupied territory. The enemy was not Nazi Germany, but the Accuser who had occupied our world since the time of Adam and Eve. Breaking his occupation would not be easy. Fortunately, much had happened since the Fall. God did not stand idly by when sin and death entered the world. He formed a people for His own thorough his covenant with Abraham. He instructed and prepared them through the Law and the Prophets. He promised a Messiah who would come and liberate the entire world. The tide was about to turn.
God invaded this occupied world on Pentecost. He established the Church and through it gave us the weapons to defeat the enemy. These weapons are not guns or tanks, but the Sacraments. World War II ended on September 2, 1945. The war against the evil one, sin, and death continues to this day. But with the Holy Spirit we are marching together to victory and salvation.
