Pentecost
12 June 2011
First reading Acts 2:1-11 3
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.’
Psalm or canticle: Psalm 103:1,24,29-31,34
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.
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.’
Reflection
By Benj Santiago
“Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit”
Attending charismatic way of praise and worship for the first time, made me totally uneasy, especially the lifting of arms. It felt weird hearing people around me making all kinds of sounds that is not making any sense for me. Then I attended my very first Light In The Spirit Seminar sponsored by the Parish Church, which made me understand though not fully comprehend what is happening. This may be the same situation with the believers who gathered on the very first Pentecost. “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” (Acts 21: 4). The believers were even confused of being able to understand what each one is babbling (Acts 21: 6). Before they were filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus stood in their midst and said to them twice the words “Peace be with you” and they all rejoiced! And then Jesus gave them a wonderful present… He breathed on them the Holy Spirit! Followed by a command to each of them to forgive and retain sins. A second command after commissioning them to be disciples for the gentiles and the Jews. Baptizing and forgiving sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We are so blessed that up to this day, these commands by our Lord Jesus Christ continue to happen all over the world!
Dear Lord, we thank You for sending us the gifts of the Holy Spirit to inspire us and enable us to serve You through people whom You send us on our way. Thank You Lord for the gift of reconciliation that You continue to give us through your current day representatives, our priests.In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Forgive and ask forgiveness with your loved ones.
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