The world today is full of anxiety, noise, and people talking past one another—while more and more feel that they can no longer carry their burdens alone. According to Tamás Forrai, this is why the message of Pentecost is more relevant than ever: it is not only about faith, but also about an inner strength and hope that can restore connection between people. The Jesuit priest spoke to us about the Holy Spirit, fear, division, and the possibility of true renewal.
Many people see Pentecost as just a long weekend. What message do you think we most need to rediscover in it today?
For me, Pentecost is the experience that God still wants to give us gifts—me, you, and everyone. So often I would like to “solve” my tasks on my own and heal my own wounds. When I recognize my limitations and entrust them to God with trust and hope, I am able to experience the gifts of the Spirit that we celebrate at this time.
The Holy Spirit is often more difficult to explain than the Father or Jesus. How would you describe who or what the Holy Spirit is to a modern person?
For me, the Holy Spirit is the comforting and life-giving presence of Jesus. It is the divine spark hidden within the heart of every person. It is the inner strength that enables us to live the Gospel courageously and authentically in our lives and communities. Perhaps it is best described by how the Spirit shapes us. Its effect is like an inner compass that helps us navigate everyday life. It is the source of much-needed dialogue and unity, where true listening, understanding, and then forgiveness become possible. It is the power of renewal, enabling us to “repair” things that cannot be restored by purely human effort without God. All of this is true both in our personal lives and in our experience as communities.
Pentecost is often called the “birthday” of the Church. What does this mean in an age when many people are distancing themselves from the Church?
The Church is born at the first Pentecost because it is then that the still fearful and uncertain disciples—and the wider community—experience that, after their encounters with the risen Jesus, they are now able to fully surrender themselves to Him. From individuals who have been transformed in their very being, a genuine, lasting, and witnessing community emerges. At the same time, we live in an age in which we painfully experience that many people are passively drifting away from the Church of Jesus, or actively turning against it because they find it inauthentic or irrelevant. This, however, also signals an age of necessary renewal. The time is over when anyone can be Christian out of habit, tradition, or conformity. Instead, one must make a personal and free decision to commit oneself to the path of Jesus. Moreover, this decision must be renewed daily through the way one lives, speaks, and relates to others. In this sense, the invitation of the first Pentecost becomes especially relevant today as a deeply personal decision.
According to the Bible, the disciples were afraid and locked themselves away, but after Pentecost they boldly went out among the people. What are people most afraid of today—and what can give true courage?
Pentecost is indeed a transformative experience of courage and renewed hope. We only need to consider how much fear surrounds us. There is the uncertainty of the present and the future, as it is not only young people who face the serious question of what they can build a secure future on in a changing world. There is also fear of climate change and the possible collapse of social support systems. The crisis of communities and institutions also generates fear, as does the loss of credibility of our churches and so many other things. What can give true courage? I believe courage is not simply the absence of fear, but an inner foundation that enables us to act for what is good. The antidote to fear is a way of life rooted in joy. This kind of courage comes from not being afraid to face reality. It is the awareness that together we can carry burdens that we could not bear alone. This gives real hope and courage. It is then that courageous and honest speech about values can be born, as well as standing up for them, and the shared experience that such witness can have success and results. This Pentecost, I have felt this in so many people across the country.
There is an increasing level of anxiety, burnout, and uncertainty. Can faith or spirituality truly serve as an anchor in everyday life today?
Anxiety, burnout, and uncertainty are real in today’s world. They are amplified when I try to carry and solve my burdens alone, and after a while I realize it cannot be done this way. The role of spirituality and faith is that in such moments I do not stop, but become aware that I do not have to struggle alone, because God is already with me. He has come to me, as He came alongside the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He was already with me before, I just need to recognize Him and allow Him to help and guide me.
One of the strongest motifs in the Pentecost story is that people “understood one another,” even though they spoke different languages. What does this say to today’s divided society?
The division in our society today is very painful to me. In recent times, such deep trenches have been dug that not only the possibility of understanding, but even the possibility of listening, is often missing. For me, as a Hungarian and as a Christian, one of my most important calls is to build—and to help build—an environment in which listening becomes possible. And when I listen to the other person patiently and gently (and perhaps also share how I see the world), then understanding can slowly grow between us. This may be the prerequisite for every other step.
As a Jesuit, you meet many young people. What are they most searching for today: faith, community, silence, or guidance?
Naturally, every young person is different and seeks different things. Perhaps all of the above. What connects them, for me, is that they are searching for the deeper meaning of their lives—the anchors that can hold them in a drifting, fragmented world. It is as if everything suggests that there is no universally valid truth, yet young people still search for it and want to stand up for it.
If you had to give one final message as a takeaway for readers at Pentecost, what would it be?
I began by saying that we are celebrating the fact that God wants to give us a deeply transforming and renewing gift. I would encourage everyone to take time in these days to reflect on what could renew and complete their lives, and to ask for it with courage, trust, and genuine hope.
