SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST
The Breath of Fire
Who does not dream of a day to come when he or she will no longer be afraid to do the things so long postponed because the courage to do them was lacking? Who is not hoping for more enthusiasm to do the everyday tasks with joy, to take the risk of deeply loving God and people without conditions and without hesitation? Who does not wish to be much more inspired and dynamic and creative in life? Today is the day on which this can begin to happen, for today is Pentecost, the day of the Spirit, the day the stormwind renews our love, the day of the fire that brings us joy and freedom, the day of the Holy Spirit. May Jesus breathe his Spirit on us and make our hearts aflame with his light and life.
Reading I: Acts 2:1-11
When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
5-11 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were blown away. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!
“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”
Reading II: 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13
For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say “Jesus be damned!” Nor would anyone be inclined to say “Jesus is Master!” without the insight of the Holy Spirit.
4-11 God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere, but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere, but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere, but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.
You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts—limbs, organs, cells—but no matter how many parts you can name, you’re still one body. It’s exactly the same with Christ. By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive.
Gospel: Jn 20:19-23
Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were awestruck. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”
22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
Prayer
God our Father,
let the Holy Spirit surprise us
with fire and vigor,
and make us young and new again
as he did for the young Church.
Let your Spirit renew our days,
our loves and our lives,
bring us tenderness and joy
as well as openness to one another
and the courage to stand up
for all that is right and just.
Let him unite us and lead us to you.
All this we ask you through Christ Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.
Reflection :
28 May 2023 PENTECOST SUNDAY
John 20:19-23
Spirit of Christ
The Gospel begins by saying, “On the evening of the first day of the week.” By the time the Gospel of John was written, the first day of the week referred to the day for Christians to gather to celebrate the Eucharist. It is in this context of the weekly gatherings of the first Christian community that Jesus breathes on the disciples and invites them to “receive the Holy Spirit”.
John gives the details of the incident: It was the first day of the week, it was evening, and the doors were closed. It is possible that the closed doors simply explained the disciples’ fear, as John himself suggested. But they may also have symbolised the hearts of the disciples, which are closed and paralysed, not yet ready to believe that their Lord, who was tortured and killed, is now alive.
It is into the midst of these unbelieving people that the Lord comes in. Closed doors no longer restrict him – he passes through their hardened hearts to breathe peace and joy. Remember the words in the letter to the Hebrews 4:12: “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Was this the experience of the disciples when they felt the Lord was breathing on them and invited them to “receive the Holy Spirit?”
The Word of God is not chained! It pierces through closed doors and enters deep into people’s hearts. His words, “Peace be with you,” are brought into the hearts of those who are burdened, bruised, restless, frightened, lonely, and sad. He breathes happiness and peace into their hearts and invites them to receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus promises the Spirit’s guidance in our lives. The Gospel of John has given us extensive details on the works of the Holy Spirit. “I will not leave you alone,” “The Spirit of Truth will lead you to all truth.” As the Church celebrates its birthday, we are reminded to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, direction, and protection throughout our journey of faith.
We often pray to God the Father and Jesus, but we seldom pray to the Holy Spirit and thus fail to listen to the voice of the Spirit. If we listen to him in silence, He makes the Word of God penetrate our hearts and gives us the strength to live by the Gospel. Today we are called to let ourselves be led by the voice of the Spirit to give glory to Jesus.