RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT…

PENTECOST SUNDAY

Acts 2:1-11
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.7 And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 

1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 

John 20:19-23
19 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.”20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING describe the annual festival day namely ‘Shavout’ or Pentecost that commemorated the giving of the Torah. The New Covenant Pentecost event is the fulfillment of Christ’s Passover when the third person of the Trinity,the Holy Spirit is manifested, given and poured out to Gods people.

Catec 743 “From the beginning to the end of time, whenever God sends his Son, he always sends his Spirit: their mission is conjoined and inseparable.
747 The Holy Spirit, whom Christ the head pours out on his members, builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. She is the sacrament of the Holy Trinity’s communion with men.”

St PAULS EPISTLE address the kind of response and or calling the Holy Spirit will bring about in us. To be sure, those who receive this gift are propelled to be in service of God for the “common good” (v7) of man! Pentecost is the consumation of the Church, the body of Christ operating as a unitive structure being in service of the people of God. Once we receive this gift, we can no longer be armrest Christians. No, we are called to labour in God’s vineyard.

THE GOSPEL READING describe our Lords appearance to the eleven on Sunday the “first day of the week.” This was a visitation that sought to bring peace and healing to the Apostles who were angst by their cowardice some three days before when they abandoned the Lord. These men needed to be given the assurance that God is forgiving and loving! 
Without pointing fingers, our Lord demonstrate his love and forgiveness when He breathe on them the gift of the Holy Spirit whereby He also consecrated them to forgive the sins of men and women who desire God’s mercy and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation or confession. All of us sin and fall short of the glory of the Lord (Rm 3:23), therefore it stands to reason that when we need to confess our sins. Moreover someone, a just judge need to hear our wretchedness and we need to hear the voice of forgiveness ‘in persona christi’ to reassure and comfort us that God has truly forgiven us! This Sacrament is truly a God sent healing act that no psychologist or therapist can copy to heal the broken hearted.

LET US PRAY: Psalm 104:24, 29-31,34

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, thou art very great! Thou art clothed with honor and majesty, 

24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy creatures. 
29 When thou hidest thy face, they are dismayed; when thou takest away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the ground. 31 May the glory of the LORD endure for ever, may the LORD rejoice in his works,
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. 

catholicwitnessct@gmail.com
Author: Henry R SYLVESTER
Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast day