Pentecost Sunday

Solemnity of the Pentecost

24 May 2026

 

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

Gospel: John 20:19-23

 

Reflection

By: Carlo Alexis Malaluan

 

The Gospel begins in a place we recognize very well today: fear behind closed doors.

The disciples are not gathered in confidence or celebration. They are hiding. The doors are locked. Fear of persecution has narrowed their world until it is reduced to one room. They have seen what happened to Jesus, and now they wonder if the same fate awaits them. And into that sealed space, Christ comes. The first words of the risen Lord are not rebuke, not disappointment, not correction. He does not ask why they ran away. He does not demand explanations. He simply says, Peace be with you!

It is important that Jesus does not wait for the doors to open. He enters while they are still closed. This is the first message of the Resurrection: no locked door is strong enough to keep out the presence of Christ. But the peace He gives is not just calm feelings or the absence of trouble. It is reconciliation with God, courage restored to frightened hearts, and a mission born out of mercy. Then comes a second “Peace be with you.” And immediately after, He sends them, As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Here, we see that Peace is never meant to stay locked inside. It is given to be carried outward. And then Jesus breathes on them and says, Receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given not in a place of strength, but in a place of fear. Not after they have become brave, but so that they may become brave. The Holy Spirit is not a reward for courage already achieved; He is the power that creates courage where there was none.

This Gospel speaks very directly into our world today. We live in a time when many doors are still closed, some physically, many emotionally. Closed doors of fear between nations and closed doors of distrust between peoples. Closed doors in hearts wounded by violence, terrorism, war, and division. In so many parts of the world, families live behind the locked doors of shelters, displacement camps, or destroyed homes. And even where there is no physical war, there is often an interior one: fear of the future, fear of others, fear that peace is no longer possible. Into all of this, Christ still comes and speaks the same words: “Peace be with you.” But He does not offer peace as an idea or a political slogan. He offers His own presence. And He gives the same gift He gave in that locked room: the Holy Spirit.

The disciples moved from fear to mission in one movement: they received the Spirit of Peace. That is also the invitation for us. Where are the locked doors in our own lives? Fear of conflict? Fear of change? Fear of those who are different from us? Fear that peace is too fragile to hope for?

Christ does not wait for those doors to open. He enters anyway. And He breathes His Spirit into those places. And then He says again, quietly but insistently, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

In a world wounded by war and division, Christians are not called to be spectators of despair. We are sent as carriers of a different presence: the peace of Christ that the world cannot give, and cannot take away: a peace that begins behind closed doors but never stays there.

What's Your Candy?

Pentecost Sunday

08 June 2025

 

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

Gospel: John 20:19-23

 

Reflection

By: Bernard M. Borja

 

In the afternoon of Wednesday, 7th of May 2025, one hundred and thirty-three Cardinals were gathered in the Pauline Chapel, all asking for divine guidance as the Papal Conclave began. “Veni Creator Spiritus” – a prayer and hymn that the Cardinal electors were chanting during their procession to the Sistine Chapel as they receive a final spiritual reflection and begin their sacred task of voting for a Supreme Pontiff. The divine process behind closed doors went on for the next two days. But for us and the rest of the world, we waited. Even though we heard and read some stories about it, and while there were also some depictions through films, imagining the things that happen inside the chapel during the conclave could only be put up to faith. We can only look forward and watch the smoke from the chimney of the Sistine chapel that would signify that “no pope was chosen” or “a pope has been chosen”. Then at last, on May 8, at 6:07pm Rome time, the white smoke appeared, and the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica began to ring. Minutes later, after the much-anticipated words – “Habemus Papam” has been spoken, and as our hearts started to be filled with joy, the new Pope Leo XIV came out onto the balcony. Then he spoke his first words to the faithful, a much familiar greeting that the risen Christ also said to the disciples – “Peace be with you.”

It is both joyful and consoling when we remember these events that are not just a significant part of our faithful identity but also manifestation of God’s love through The Holy Spirit. Similarly, two thousand years ago, something also happened behind locked doors that eventually led to the birth of the Catholic Church. Both events have the same message of Christ, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” A message that has been passed not only to the church leaders but also to us all.

Today, we are reminded of our identity as a church and manifestation of the works of The Holy Spirit. Like the disciples and Pope Leo XIV, we are also called to proclaim the mighty acts of God to the peripheries of the world. As Pope Leo XIV said, “Together we must try to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges and always dialogues, that is always open to receiving everyone in need. A church that journeys, a church that seeks peace always, that always seeks charity, that wants to be close to people, especially those who are suffering." 

Though sometimes, we may not always find ourselves in a state of carrying out the mission of the church or receiving someone in need. There are times when we feel that what we have is not enough to console someone in need. Saint Paul reminds us that in one Spirit we are all baptized into one body of Christ. But we are all called in our uniqueness to be witnesses in our own ways because as Saint Paul said, “there are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit, different forms of service but the same Lord, different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle shared a moment that happened with him and then Cardinal Robert Prevost during the conclave. Cardinal Prevost became anxious as it became clearer that he was about to be elected as the next pope. Seeing his face with deep sighs, Cardinal Tagle offered him a candy, “Do you want some candy?” Cardinal Prevost said, “Okay, give me one.” It was a funny and warm moment about someone whose anxiety rose up because of a coming responsibility but being consoled by a simple gesture or offering. As Cardinal Tagle said, “It was my first act of charity for the new pope.” This can also remind us how a simple offer can console and encourage someone in need even though help was not being asked. A simple reminder of how we, as a church, can build bridges with the gifts that we have received from The Holy Spirit. A gift, or “candy”, that we can always offer as one with a church that always seeks charity to be lived with others and bring the peace of the Risen Christ that is unarmed and disarming. As Pope Leo XIV also said recently, “the Christian Life is not lived in isolation, like an intellectual or sentimental adventure, confined to our minds and hearts. It is lived with others, in a group or a community, because the Risen Christ is present among the disciples gathered in His name.” Today, as we celebrate the birth of the Catholic Church, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts and enable us to proclaim the mighty acts of God through our openness to offer a part of ourselves to charity.

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,

and in our souls take up Thy rest;

come with Thy grace and heavenly aid

to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,

O heavenly gift of God Most High,

O fount of life and fire of love,

and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;

Thou, finger of God's hand we own;

Thou, promise of the Father,

Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,

and make our hearts o'erflow with love;

with patience firm and virtue high

the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,

and grant us Thy peace instead;

so shall we not, with Thee for guide,

turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow

the Father and the Son to know;

and Thee, through endless times confessed,

of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,

Who rose from death, be glory given,

with Thou, O Holy Comforter,

henceforth by all in earth and heaven.

AMEN.

My Super All In One!

“ The Father bears witness from heaven to His Son. The Holy Spirit bears witness, coming down bodily in the form of a dove. The archangel Gabriel bears witness, bringing the good tidings to Mary. The Virgin Mother of God bears witness.”

- St. Cyril of Jerusalem

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,  which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,

as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?

We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Second Reading: First Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13

Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, "Jesus be accursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many,  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Gospel: John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

Reflection
By Anabelle Payod-Balla

I love watching movies. Movies would normally run for one and a half hours or two. But we all know that it takes months or even years to make a very good movie. We see the actors and the actresses on screen but we also know that there are more people other than those we see on screen who played important roles to make the movie happen. We don't see their faces in the movie, they are not hogging the limelight. We only see their names shown on the last part of the movie, when people are already on their way out and no longer paying attention to the screen.

Unlike Jesus, Mother Mary and some famous saints, the Holy Spirit seems to have lesser devotees. It is not common to hear Novena to the Holy Spirit. Though I would say that in most prayers, we always seek the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We know that He is always there, working behind the scene.

I am lucky to have known the Holy Spirit in the early years of my life. I got hold of this prayer to the Holy Spirit when I was in college and I’ve been reciting it as part of my daily night prayer ever since. I feel that I cannot go on without His help. I embraced Him as a vital part of my being, of my family. For me, the Holy Spirit is the life within me. He is my strength, my wisdom, my help, my protector, my comforter, my counselor, my director, my guide! I feel Him. He is like the music in me Who makes me sing in gladness, the wind beneath my wings, the force that helps make wonderful things happen in my life. He is the joy within that nourishes my soul! I love the Holy Spirit and He is with me and my family always. And I am sure, He is with you as well, just waiting for you to make Him part of your life.

As we celebrate the Pentecost, let us welcome and embrace the Holy Spirit and receive again His wonderful gifts of wisdom, understanding, fear of the Lord , counsel, knowledge, fortitude, and piety (reverence). Let us listen and obey His promptings. Let us allow Him to dwell in us so we can bear and share His fruits of charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.

Choose the Holy Spirit to be your constant companion. He will keep us close to the Father always.

Prayer

O Holy Spirit soul of my soul, enlighten, guide, strengthen, and console me. Teach me what I should do. Give me Your orders and I promise to be submissive in all that You desire of me and to accept all that You allow to happen to me. Grant only to me to know Your will.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Oh God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, has taught the hearts of Your faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Most Holy Trinity
30 May 2010


Come, let us worship God, one in Trinity and a Trinity in One.


First reading Proverbs 8:22-31 3
The Wisdom of God cries aloud:
The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded,
before the oldest of his works.
From everlasting I was firmly set,
from the beginning, before earth came into being.
The deep was not, when I was born,
there were no springs to gush with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills, I came to birth;
before he made the earth, the countryside,
or the first grains of the world’s dust.
When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,
when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep,
when he thickened the clouds above,
when he fixed fast the springs of the deep,
when he assigned the sea its boundaries
– and the waters will not invade the shore –
when he laid down the foundations of the earth,
I was by his side, a master craftsman,
delighting him day after day,
ever at play in his presence,
at play everywhere in his world,
delighting to be with the sons of men.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 8:4-9

Second reading Romans 5:1-5
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God’s glory. But that is not all we can boast about; we can boast about our sufferings. These sufferings bring patience, as we know, and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.

Gospel John 16:12-15
Jesus said:
‘I still have many things to say to you
but they would be too much for you now.
But when the Spirit of truth comes
he will lead you to the complete truth,
since he will not be speaking as from himself
but will say only what he has learnt;
and he will tell you of the things to come.
He will glorify me,
since all he tells you
will be taken from what is mine.
Everything the Father has is mine;
that is why I said:
All he tells you
will be taken from what is mine.’

Reflection
By Elizabeth R. Eguia

We have power within us. We have power to declare great things to happen, for dreams to come true, power to witness miracles to happen in our lives and with others. It all came to me as I read and listen to the word of God for the past few weeks. Sometimes when you are down you cannot envision this because our minds are filled with worries, with negative feelings and emotions. We always complain and question God why is this happening to us. But the good news is, God loves us so much that he has never leave our side. He is there during our ups and downs. It happened to me. When I feel down, I cry a lot, feeling sorry for myself but somewhere at the back of my mind there is one voice telling me to talk to God, call Him, tell Him what I feel which I usually do. I cried asking Him to comfort me. I cried asking Him for strength. I cried like a baby asking for a father’s embrace. And you know… I felt His presence, I felt His comfort that things will be okay. I felt Him saying to me to cheer up as there is nothing to be sad about. He guides me what to do. He prompted me to listen to His words through catholic radio stations like El Shaddai. God’s messages were brought forth to me through the reflections and testimonies of people on how God works in their lives. This is the power of the Holy Spirit which you and I are receiving. He works in us, guides us, help us to acknowledge the need to strengthen our relationship with God.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with your gifts of fear, piety, fortitude, knowledge, understanding, counsel, and wisdom. Guide and help us to use it for God’s greater glory. Amen.

Next on God-speak
Satisfied