Pentecost
04 June 2017
| First reading | Acts 2:1-11 |
|---|
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.
Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’
Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’
| Responsorial Psalm |
|---|
Psalm 103(104):1,24,29-31,34 |
| Second reading | 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13 |
|---|
No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.
Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.
Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
| Gospel Acclamation |
|---|
Alleluia, alleluia!
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Alleluia!
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Alleluia!
| Gospel | John 20:19-23 |
|---|
In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.
‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’
‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’
Reflection
by Benj Santiago
“ Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
We commemorate today the feast of Pentecost, the coming of the promised Advocate of the Father - the Holy Spirit. Preceded by strong winds and in the form of tongues of fire, it descended upon the apostles and they began to preach to the devout Jews from different nations who were gathered in Jerusalem. People who speak different tongues were surprised to understand the message conveyed by Peter and the rest of Jesus' followers.
Last Sunday was the Solemnity of the Ascension of Christ . Christ ascended into heaven, but He made sure that we believers will not be left behind. He fulfilled His promise that all who have gathered in His Name will be baptized by the Holy Spirit. And instantly they were able to communicate and understood each other in spite of their different languages. And when people understand each other, they have unity. And when there is unity, there is love and peace.
In our families, in our communities, in our work places, and in our country as a whole, there is a great need to pray for understanding. We need to have the Pentecost experience to resolve conflicts brought about by varying and conflicting ideas. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit descend upon all of us so that we can understand each other and achieve peace.
We commemorate today the feast of Pentecost, the coming of the promised Advocate of the Father - the Holy Spirit. Preceded by strong winds and in the form of tongues of fire, it descended upon the apostles and they began to preach to the devout Jews from different nations who were gathered in Jerusalem. People who speak different tongues were surprised to understand the message conveyed by Peter and the rest of Jesus' followers.
Last Sunday was the Solemnity of the Ascension of Christ . Christ ascended into heaven, but He made sure that we believers will not be left behind. He fulfilled His promise that all who have gathered in His Name will be baptized by the Holy Spirit. And instantly they were able to communicate and understood each other in spite of their different languages. And when people understand each other, they have unity. And when there is unity, there is love and peace.
In our families, in our communities, in our work places, and in our country as a whole, there is a great need to pray for understanding. We need to have the Pentecost experience to resolve conflicts brought about by varying and conflicting ideas. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit descend upon all of us so that we can understand each other and achieve peace.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending to us the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us. We pray that we become bearers of the Holy Spirit to make us instruments of peace, unity and love. Lord, grant that the power of the Holy Spirit would enable us to renew the face of the earth! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell us what you feel...