PENTECOST SUNDAY Texts: Acts 2:1-11 1 Cor. 12:3b-7, 12-13 Jn. 20:19-23 In the gospel, we heard about the appearance of Jesus to the disciples. There are three things to reflect upon. The first one is the greeting and the giving of peace. Jesus said to the disciples, “Peace be with you” (Jn. 20:19). 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 third one is the bestowal of the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn. 20:23). Peace is the fruit of the resurrection. It is a peace that the world cannot give. It is only Jesus who could bestow it totally to the believers. That is why, Jesus upon appearing to the disciples, he greeted them with peace. Peace then becomes the proof of the presence of God. Jesus relates the sending of the disciples for a mission with His experience of the Father who sent Him. The relationship of Jesus with his Father must be the model for their mission. This relationship must empower them to give witness and to create new communities. The giving of the Holy Spirit reflects the enduring and abiding presence of Jesus to the disciples. The presence of Jesus is perpetuated by the presence of the Holy Spirit. This divine presence is assured to the disciples and becomes the driving force as they do their mission of forgiving and binding. 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 believers. Our celebration of Pentecost must really be a manifestation of joy and gladness and thanksgiving of the amazing presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church and in the world today. The Holy Spirit is the breath of life. He is the source of the new life of the church. The Holy Spirit is presence; he is a gentle breeze. Moreover our celebration of the feast of the Pentecost is also a celebration of the rebirthing of the church. Today, we are called to become the instruments of the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the society and to become life-forces to safeguard the truth of the church and the gift of life in the world. As I reached out to the different kinds of people and have traveled to other places, I learned to appreciate the uniqueness of humanity, the beauty of the world and the wonders of the earth. I recognized my own potentials, talent, ability and giftedness and have accepted my own limitations and weaknesses. I humbly say that I could never be able to renew myself, to reform the church, to transform the society, to re-create the world and to bring life to the earth by myself alone. I need people in the building up of the church, in transforming the society and in renewing the face of the world. I must be in solidarity with the rest of the world and be in communion with God and the rest of his creation. When I explored some areas of the Philippines, I discovered a lot of beautiful and vibrant people, amazing natural resources, unique cultural heritage, religious piety and values. When I was in the mission works, I experienced a lot of wonderful people, remarkable cultures, beautiful places and religious beliefs. Humanity has a lot of gifts, capacities and potentialities. I don’t have all of these. I am only one of those unique people who continue to renew the face of the earth and worship the true and living God in my own little ways. I cannot be an artist or musician or administrator or scientist or medical practitioners or builder or anybody else. All people on earth have different stories of life, missions, works, values, resources and gifts. But there is only one God and life-giving Spirit who is the final destiny of humanity and the source of everything in this world. The Feast of the Pentecost reminds me that no matter how little or great I am, I still have a mission to make God known, loved and served. The gospel reminds me that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church and in those who believe in the God in Jesus Christ brings definite peace and unity in heaven and on earth, in humanity, in the world and the rest of God’s overwhelming creation. The Holy Spirit is to me a life-giving connection of my life with God, with other people and with all things in heaven and on earth. The Holy Spirit captivates me in love with God and with humanity and enables me to recognize the gifts of the world and to bow humbly before my Lord and my God in Jesus. The first reading is about the descent of the Holy Spirit among the believers. The second reading is about our one confession on Jesus as Lord. The gospel is about the giving of the Holy Spirit and the commissioning of the disciples. I am resolved today to really be possessed by the word of God and by the Eucharist so that my own person may become a life-giving spirit that helps renew the face of the earth and gives glory to the Lord. The Eucharist is a celebration of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church. It is a celebration of a “New Pentecost.” Thus to celebrate the Eucharist is to experience the amazing presence and the life-giving forces 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 today. To drink the blood of Christ in the Eucharist is to become the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Therefore in this Eucharist, we pray that the Father in heaven may bestow on us again the life-giving gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we may be able to give witness to his presence among us. Let the grace of the Eucharist enable us to become the channels of the mystery of God. Yes, we pray that our Eucharistic celebration today may become a proclamation of being church which is filled by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth. God the Holy Spirit blesses us all.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 03:52:19 +0000
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