I truly enjoy this passage from Joel because it makes the link with one of the greatest patriarchs of the Old Testament; Moses.  Known as the humblest man on earth, Moses at one time exclaimed, "If only all Yahweh's people were prophets, and Yahweh had given them his spirit!" (Numbers 11:29).  Joel, known as "the prophet of Pentecost" and speaking on behalf of the One, True God of Israel, confirms Moses' wish spoken 850 years earlier and prophesies that one day, all of humanity would be the recipients of God's Spirit.

  
But this passage from the prophet Joel is also linked to the New Testament and to our very first pope, St. Peter.  On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon all those gathered in the upper room, Peter goes out to address the crowd of 3,000 men gathered in Jerusalem and amongst the very first words that he uttered were the very words spoken by the prophet Joel, 400 years earlier.  I find this fascinating!  Peter's first discourse as pope, found in Acts 2:16-21, clearly confirms the miracle of Pentecost as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy as well as the fulfillment of Moses' heartfelt wish that all would be able to prophesy (a charism only available through the Holy Spirit).

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Therefore, as sons and daughters of the Father and as believers in Jesus Christ, the baptism in the Spirit is our heritage; it is ours to claim without any trace of doubt and with great joy!