Cycle A - Year I:  

28 May 2023: Pentecost Sunday 

(Liturgical Color: Red)

Readings:

First Reading:        Acts 2:1-11

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

Gospel:  Please Read  John 20:19-23 

The Holy Spirit transforms us to be missionaries!

The Church celebrates Pentecost Sunday, which comes fifty days after Easter Sunday. Hence, it is called "Pentecost" from the Greek word which means "the 50th day".

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).

We hear the story of the original Pentecost event in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2). Jews "from every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5) were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish feast of Pentecost. On that day, ten days after the Ascension of our Lord, the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary were gathered in the Upper Room where they had seen Jesus after His Resurrection.

"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 for this Sunday. He wrote about the very first encounter of the risen Lord with His disciples. The resurrected Christ appears and offers proof of His resurrection by showing the disciples the wounds of His passion, His pierced hands and side. Then Jesus calmed their fears and brought them peace, the peace which reconciles sinners and makes them friends of God. Jesus breathes His Spirit into His disciples to give them new life. Recall that in the Book of Genesis God breathes on human beings to bring them life. Then Jesus commissioned His weak and timid Apostles to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit helps them 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 languages 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 "the birthday of the Church". On this day with the descend of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, Christ's mission 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 event.

The same Holy Spirit is as active in the Church today, transforming it -- and us -- into missionaries for our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, we are empowered by the same Holy Spirit to continue the missionary work of the Church, to face the challenges of our time, especially in matters of faith and morality.

In the Eucharist at Holy Mass, let us pray that the Holy Spirit empowers us with His seven gifts (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord) to keep us unwavering in our faith and remain committed to all the teachings of the Church handed down from the first Apostles to the bishops and the Pope. Let us use these gifts to build and strengthen the Church as the Body of Christ through constant prayers and works of charity. Because it is through prayers that the Holy Spirit works in our humanity, strengthens our weaknesses and transforms us from men bound to material realities into men filled with the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!