Cycle C - Year II:  

5 June 2022: Pentecost Sunday 

(Liturgical Color: Red)

Readings:

First Reading:        Acts 2:1-11

Second Reading:  1 Cor. 12:3-7, 12-13

Gospel:  Please Read  John 20:19-23 

The Spirit empowers the Church!

The Season of Easter concludes today with the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost.  We celebrate on Pentecost the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem; this event marks the beginning of the Church.

Pentecost Sunday is one of the most ancient feasts of the Church, celebrated early enough to be mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (20:16) and also in St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians (16:8)

Throwback: After  the Resurrection, our Lord Jesus remained physically and taught the Church for forty days until His Ascension into His Father's heavenly kingdom (Acts 1:3) At the Ascension, Jesus instructed the Apostles and disciples to return to Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. There they prayed together for nine days as one community with the Virgin Mary with one petition for God to send His Spirit, until the tenth day that was fifty days of Christ's Resurrection.  That is why it is called "Pentecost", from the Greek word which means "the 50th day". So Pentecost comes on the seventh Sunday after the Lord's Resurrection.

After Jesus completes His worldly mission and ascended into heaven, it is now the turn of the Holy Spirit to continue the saving work through the disciples and Holy Mother Church.  The Acts of the Apostles in the first reading today describe the great event of the first Pentecost:

"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 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 Holy Spirit enabled them to proclaim."  (Acts 2:1-4)      

St. John is our evangelist this Sunday. He speaks about the very first encounter of the risen Lord with His disciples.  When the resurrected Christ appears, He offered 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 sinner and makes one a friend of God.  Then Jesus commissioned His weak and timid Apostles to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. He breathes on them the gift of the Holy Spirit.  These gifts would help them to fulfill their mission to preach  the Gospel to all nations. And so, the Apostles, who were not especially learned men, suddenly began to speak in the language of all those around them. They become eloquent when prophesying  "the mighty acts of God" and experts in exegesis of the Scriptures.

Pentecost Sunday is also called "the birthday of the Church". With the descend of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, Christ's mission here on earth is completed and the New Covenant is inaugurated.  It is interesting to note that Saint Peter, the first Pope, was already the leader and spokesperson of the Apostles on the very first Pentecost Sunday.

The same gifts of the Holy Spirit were granted to us at our baptism when we were infused with the sanctifying grace, the life of God in our souls, which helps us to live authentic Christian life.  So then we are empowered by the same Holy Spirit to continue the missionary work of the Church, to face the challenges of our time, especially on matters of faith and morality.

The Gospel also reminds us that the Church is called to be a reconciling presence in the world.  This reconciling presence is to be a way of life for all Christians.  So that in situation of conflict, we are to be angel of peace and harmony among people. Amen.

A blessed Pentecost Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!