It is a sad commentary on our age that just when humanity has reached the pinnacle of scientific knowledge and technological progress, wisdom seems to be in short supply.

Virtually every group I've been involved with or watched from a distance has struggled with conflict and division. Somebody wants to have his or her own way and someone else resists. The unity of the group is broken.

Throughout the history of the Church, there has, again and again, been a tension between an ordered "institutional Church" and the supposed charismatic Church or Church of the faithful. Whenever times get rocky for the bishops and pope – and when isn't it rocky? – many will proclaim that they want Church without the hierarchy.

In all the New Testament, there is likely no section more mournful, more despairing than the latter half of chapter 7 of St. Paul's letter to the Romans.

Let the heavens be glad and earth rejoice; let the sea roar and all that fills it; let the field exult and everything in it. Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming, he is coming to judge the earth" (Psalm 96.11-13).

The Acts of the Apostles emphasizes the Holy Spirit's role in the spreading of the Gospel and in charisms such as prophecy and speaking in tongues. But while St. Paul was a primary actor in the spread of the Gospel and he recognized the importance of charisms, his emphasis was different.

St. Paul had great respect for the spectacular charisms of tongues, prophecy, healing and others and how they could build up the Church. Yet his repeated insistence in his letters to the Corinthians that God's power is made perfect in weakness gives us reason to pause.

First, the gift of tongues. At Pentecost, the disciples receive the gift of tongues to speak the word of God to Jews visiting Jerusalem each in their own language. Yet, very soon, Christians were praying in tongues and no one could understand them (1 Corinthians 14.16).

The events of Pentecost day were among the most spectacular with the most far-reaching effects of any day in human history.

John the Baptist was surprised, disappointed. After the incidents at the Jordan where he had baptized Jesus with water, and the skies had opened, a dove rested on Jesus and a voice declared, "You are my Son, the Beloved," John had expected more.