Pentecost Sunday

Texts:
Acts 2:1-11
1 Cor. 12:3b-7, 12-13
Jn. 20:19-23

Welcome my brothers and sisters in Christ to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Today is Pentecost Sunday. We celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.

The Readings:

In the first reading, the author stressed that the event of the Pentecost was the beginning of the mission to proclaim the good news and the inauguration of the new communities. The coming of the Holy Spirit among the disciples impelled a new lifestyle for mission. This mission is founded in their faith in the risen Lord. The speaking in different languages became understandable among the believers because of the presence of the Holy Spirit among them. The reading reminds about our Christian mission to proclaim the good news of salvation today. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to do our mission on earth.
In the second reading, Paul emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives and missions of the Christian believers. He stressed that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant for the building up of the Christian communities and not for division and self-exaltation. Paul pointed out that their faith in Jesus should unite them in the proclamation of the kingdom of God. The reading reminds us that by virtue of our baptism, we become participants in the building up of the kingdom of God. The gifts of the Holy Spirit must inspire us to worship Jesus as Lord and must unite us in doing our Christian missions in this world.
In the gospel, John presented the appearance of Jesus to the disciples after the resurrection. There are three things to ponder upon. The first one is the greeting and the giving of peace. Jesus said to the disciples, “Peace be with you” (Jn. 20:19). Peace is the proof of the presence of God among them. The second one is the sending for a mission. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (Jn. 20:21). The relationship of Jesus with His Father must be the model in doing the mission to proclaim the kingdom of God. The third one is the bestowal of the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn. 20:23). The coming of the Holy Spirit is the inauguration of a new community. John reminded the community to root themselves in their experiences of intimacy with God and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit as they worship God and fulfill their missions in this world.

The Reflection:

The word “pentecost” comes from the Latin word “penta,” which means “fifty.” It was fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead when the Holy Spirit descended among the disciples. Before the event of Pentecost, the Jews connected the Feast of Pentecost to agricultural feast and the giving of the New Covenant at Mt. Sinai. As Christians, we claimed the Solemnity of Pentecost as a celebration of the descent of the Holy Spirit among the believers. The Holy Spirit is called in the Old Testament faith-experience as “ruah” or the “gentle breeze.” In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is called as the “Paracletus” or the “Advocate.” The church teaches that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. He is the life-giving Spirit of the Father and the Son. Moreover, the Feast of the Pentecost is also a celebration of the rebirthing of the church. The coming of the Holy Spirit has given impact to human development and the creation of Christian communities. During this time, perhaps, we still experienced the forces of evil in the society and division in the church. Let us understand these things as challenges for us as we continue to work for unity in the society and the building up of the different communities. The Holy Spirit is still at work mysteriously in the church and in the world today. And so, we are called to become instruments of the Holy Spirit as He continues to renew the face of the earth through us. What are the gifts that you received from the Holy Spirit? How do you share these gifts for the unity and the building up of the church and the society? How do you demonstrate a life-giving faith in your works and relationships?

The Testimony:

When I was privileged to come to other countries and met other people, I learned to appreciate the uniqueness of humanity, the beauty of the world and the wonders of the earth. I recognized my own potentials and giftedness and accepted my own limitations and weaknesses. I realized that I would never be able to change myself, to renew the church and to transform the society by my own efforts alone. I needed God and other people in the building up of the church and the renewal of our society. I acknowledged the wisdom to be in solidarity with other people and to be in communion with God and the rest of His creation as I do my mission in life. When I was given the privilege to travel in some areas of our country, I discovered a lot of beautiful places, vibrant people, amazing natural resources, unique cultural heritage and deep religious values. When I did my missionary works in other country, I was blessed to experience a lot of wonderful people, remarkable cultures, captivating places and different religious beliefs. Humanity has a lot of gifts and potentialities to offer. The discovery of some beautiful things around me had triggered in me an inner sense of awe and wonder on the life-giving spirit and the wisdom of God. I recognized how mysterious God is. This experience of the greatness of God enabled me to humble myself before God and to accept my own imperfections and sinfulness. And yet, despite of my lowliness, I felt being privileged to join with the people in the world to renew the face of the earth through the mysterious acts of the Holy Spirit. I realized that I cannot be an artist or a scientist or a doctor or a farmer or somebody else. However, I believed that God has given me the grace of vocation so that I might become contributor for the building up of the kingdom of God in this world. I firmly believed that all people on earth have unique stories of life, different values, vast resources, diversity of works and amazing gifts. But all of these are meant for the glory of God and for the good of humanity. The gospel reminds me that the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the church has brought definite peace and unity for all people on earth. Indeed, the Holy Spirit helps me to recognize the gifts of humanity, the beauty of the world and the wonders of the creation of God on earth. He empowers me to bow humbly before the Lord and to worship Him as my God. And so, I am resolved to be possessed by the Word of God and by the Eucharist so that my own humanity may become a life-giving spirit that is empowered to glorify and to worship the true and living God of the earth.

The Eucharist:

The Eucharist is a celebration of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church. It is a celebration of a “New Pentecost.” During the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the Holy Spirit transforms us into “one body and spirit in Christ.” He empowers us to witness prophetically our faith and impels us to share our gifts for the good of the church and the society. Thus, to celebrate the Eucharist is to experience the amazing presence and the life-giving force of the Holy Spirit in our Christian lives and missions. To receive Jesus in the Eucharist is to be re-created into the body and blood of Christ. To eat the body of Christ in the Eucharist is to become the breath of new life in the church. Therefore, in this Eucharist, we pray that the Father in heaven may empower us with His life-giving spirit so that we may be able to work patiently for the transformation of the world. Yes, we pray that our Eucharistic celebration may become a joyful proclamation of our participation in the work of the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth.

May God bless us.