Cycle A - Year II:  

31 May 2020: Pentecost Sunday

(Liturgical Color: Red)

Readings:

First Reading:        Acts 2:1-11

Second Reading:   1 Corinthians 12:3-7

Gospel Reading:   Please read John 20:19-23  

"The Church begins its mission!"

The Church celebrates today Pentecost Sunday.  What does "pentecost" mean to us?

The word "pentecost" is from the Greek word "pentekoste", which means "50th day".  Because fifty days after Easter Sunday the Church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and their followers.  This is the beginning of their earthly ministry to make disciples of all nations.

On the day of Pentecost, when the seven weeks of Easter has come to and end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine Person.

Pentecost Sunday is considered the birthday of the Church because from that point on the Apostles carried the message of Christ to the whole world.  The authority that Christ gave His Apostles through the Holy Spirit extends through the bishops today.   The Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church.  In fact, St. Augustine said that the Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church. Just as the soul gives life to the body, so also the Spirit gives life to the Church.

Notice that priest-celebrant will wear garments with color Red on Pentecost, and the altar cloth is also Red, symbolic of the burning fire of God's love and the tongues of fire that descended on the Apostles.  

On the Gospel proclamation for this Sunday, St. John writes about the first encounter of the risen Lord with the disciples.  When the resurrected Christ appears, He offers proof of His resurrection by showing the disciples the wounds of His passion, His pierced hands and side.  Then He calmed their fears and brought them peace, the peace which reconciles sinners and makes one a friend of God.

Then Jesus commissioned the previously weak and timid Apostles to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  Jesus breathed on them the gift of the Holy Spirit to equip His disciples with power, grace, and strength to accomplish their great mission to the world.

Now, the first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles describes the first event of Pentecost, thus: "... suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they (the disciples) were.  Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.  And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues..." (Acts 2:1-4)

Until today in our generation, we, too, are empowered by the same Holy Spirit to continue the missionary work of the Church, to face challenges of our time, especially on matters of faith and morality.

So after our Lord Jesus' ascension to heaven, it is now the turn of the Holy Spirit to continue His saving work through the disciples and our Holy Mother Church.  The Holy Spirit is the One who will gather and unite men and women of every race and tongue in one body and one faith.

And when we ask, what is the relevance of Pentecost Sunday to us while the world is fighting the corona virus?

Well, our Lord Jesus after His resurrection came to the disciples at the time of their great fear.... fear of the Jews and the Roman authorities.  So He comes to us, too, wherever we are locked in by fear to give us His peace.

And Jesus breathes upon us and gives us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of peace and truth and joy.  We can turn to this Spirit for help whenever fear threatens to overwhelm us in this life.... including the fear of the corona virus.

Finally, today we greet ourselves and the whole Church a Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary, or Happy Foundation Day, as we mark a fresh start for all of us as the New Church, the People of God, in journey toward the Father's house in heaven. Amen.

Happy Pentecost Sunday to everyone.  And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!