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Meditation: Acts 2:1-11

Pentecost Sunday

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4)

Today we celebrate that great day when the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and the apostles. The power of God was on display in a dramatic way as three thousand people accepted the gospel, repented, were baptized, and joined the Church.

What followed was an exciting and continuous display of God’s power. People came together for prayer and the Eucharist. Many were healed of sicknesses or delivered from demons. Some felt compelled to care for the poor, and others, to proclaim the gospel abroad. Despite tensions from within and persecution from without, the Church continued to grow, all because the Spirit was at work.

Not long after today’s events, a “second Pentecost” occurred, this time to a group of Gentiles in Caesarea (Acts 10:44-48). Once again, Peter preached the gospel, the Holy Spirit was poured out, and many were converted. The people who had come with Peter—all faithful Jews—“were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles” (10:45). Then when Paul ventured out on his missionary journeys, the same thing happened: the gospel was preached, the Spirit was released, people were changed, and the Church grew.

You have the Holy Spirit no less than Peter and Paul and the apostles did. This same Spirit wants to help you draw close to Jesus, and he wants to make you into his instrument of salvation. So take some time today to accept the challenge. Ask him to guide you in the truth. Ask him to take from what is Jesus’ and make it known to you (John 16:13-14). And then try your best to follow the apostles’ example by looking for opportunities to share the good news so that the Spirit can touch more and more people.

“Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me with your love. Send your fire, and renew the face of the earth.”

Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23)

1. The first reading describes the moment when the Holy Spirit “came to rest” on each one of the disciples. Witnesses are described as “confused”, “astounded” and “in amazement.” Each of us as baptized Catholics has also received the Holy Spirit. Do you believe there is enough evidence in your life to “convict” you of being a Christian with the Holy Spirit indwelling you? Do you believe that the Lord wants to give you a deeper infilling of his Spirit? How can this happen?

2. The responsorial psalm says the Holy Spirit will “renew the face of the earth”. What in your life would you like the Holy Spirit to renew?

3. The second reading says that spiritual gifts are given to each of us for the benefit of others. What spiritual gifts have you received from the Holy Spirit that can benefit your family, your parish, and others? What service could your undertake to reach out to others or serve your parish?

4. The second reading also uses the metaphor of a body to describe our Church, “and all parts of the body, though many, are one body.” In Christ, all differences are united. How tolerant are you of other members of the body of Christ who are different than you? What steps can you take, individually or with others, to bring more unity to your parish? Are you also willing to reach out to Christians who are not Catholic? If not, why not?

5. In the Gospel, Jesus’ first words to the disciples after his resurrection were words of consolation and reassurance: “peace be with you”. Following his example, what practical steps can you take to bring the Lord’s comfort and peace to others? What are the obstacles in you that keep you from witnessing God’s love to others?

6. The meditation makes this bold statement: “You have the Holy Spirit no less than Peter and Paul and the apostles did.” Do you believe this? Why or why not? The meditation goes on to say that “This same Spirit wants to help you draw close to Jesus, and he wants to make you into his instrument of salvation.” Who of us would not want the Holy Spirit to move in our lives the way it did in Peter and Paul, as well as in our parish and in our world! In what specific ways would you want the Holy Spirit to manifest himself more powerfully in your life, in your parish, and in the world?

7. Take some time now to pray and ask for a deeper infilling of the Holy Spirit. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

A Christian Pilgrim

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

(A biblical refection on the PENTECOST SUNDAY, 8th of June 2014)

Gospel Reading: John 20:19-23

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11; Psalms: Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34; Second Reading: 1Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13

The Scripture Text
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:19-23 RSV)

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you” (John 20:21)

Today is a great day of rejoicing for the Church. The Holy Spirit has been poured out! Divine life has imparted to human hearts! Ordinary people have been raised up to become privileged daughters and sons of God! Just as Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into the first disciples, so He has done for us. Just as Jesus blessed them with peace for the work that lay before them, even so today He promises peace to all who look to His Spirit for wisdom, strength, and guidance.

Dear Sisters and brothers, do you know that the Holy Spirit lives inside you? He is there, humbly and patiently working every day to give you all the blessings that Jesus won through His death and resurrection. He is there, whispering to your heart words of divine love and speaking to your conscience words of divine wisdom and direction. He is there, planning in your spirit a desire to pray, a hunger for God, and a thirst for His word.

When the disciples began to proclaim the Gospel, they were no different than each one of us. Ordinary women and men, they stepped out with faith in the indwelling Spirit and were constantly amazed at His power working through them and His love flooding their hearts. The same can happen to us today. All God needs is a humble “yes” to His invitation and a teachable heart. He can do so much in those who trust Him.

At Mass today, let Jesus’ promise of peace fill our hearts, We don’t have to be perfect or well educated or strong of character. We just have to be open to the Holy Spirit. Then, He who is in each of us will accomplish greater things than we can ask or imagine. Let us give Him our hearts today, and ask His Sprit to fill us and move us.

PRAYER: Blessed Holy Spirit, come! Stir up faith and hope in me today. Fill me with confidence in Your power and trust in my Father’s love. Come, Holy Spirit, and use me to renew the face of Your Church! Amen.

A Christian Pilgrim

08 Jun

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TAKES AWAY OUR FEARS AND ENERGIZES OUR LIVES

(A biblical refection on the PENTECOST SUNDAY, 8th of June 2014)

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11; Psalms: Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34; Second Reading: 1Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; Gospel Reading: John 20:19-23

Dale Carnegie, the author of How to win Friends and Influence People, once remarked that he had heard the “confessions” of thousands of men and women. These people timidly confided that they were “scared to death” to stand in front of an audience to give a speech. Many of these crowd-frightened individuals were otherwise fearless in their beliefs and highly successful in their careers.

Those “confessions” led Carnegie to write another book: On Public Speaking, and moved him to establish courses to help people speak in public without suffering from paralyzing fears. These classes have helped many people and are still very popular today.

The Bible tells us that the apostles suffered a similar fear of facing the public after Jesus had ascended to His Father. For a brief time they floundered in their helplessness to preach to the world, until divine assistance was sent to them.

Pentecost is the day we celebrate the anniversary of the gift of this power from on high, which converted fearful fishermen into courageous preachers and launched them on their world-wide mission.

The liturgical observance of this Spirit-filled day can also be the occasion for renewed encouragement to those of us who are too timid to take a stand for the things we know we should. We are all in need of this divine strength from above, to speak out and live out our convictions.

We don’t want to imitate the shiftless hobo, who was seen wandering aimlessly about town. When asked about his destination, he replied, “No place in particular.” “Well, how do you decide which direction to go at the beginning of the day?” He replied: “I always travel with the wind at my back.”

Many ill winds blow through our world to carry us in their directions, but Pentecost is the wind and-fire from Heaven that pushes us toward the Kingdom.

The sacrament of Confirmation is our personal Pentecost, where we open our lives to divine guidance, lest we become spiritual drifters.

Without the strength of the Spirit, the apostles would have been assigned to a mission impossible. Having received the Spirit, they were now able to accept the victor’s crown of martyrdom and the ultimate affirmation from their Master.

The first step to fulfil our missions in this world is to believe that we can, because the power of the Spirit takes away our fears and energizes our lives. Once freed from our crippling anxieties we can, like the apostles, walk bravely and talk confidently on our journey to the Kingdom.

Source: Rev. James McKarns, GO TELL EVERYONE, Makati, Philippines: St. Paul Publications, 1991, pages 36-37.