Pentecost Sunday

 Pentecost Sunday May 19, 2024

Acts 2:1-11; Gal. 5:16-25; or 1Cor12, 2-13, Jn. 15:26-27, 16:12-15 or John 20, 19-23

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An old beggar lay on his deathbed. His last words were to his youngest son who had been his constant companion during his begging trips. “Dear son," he said, “I have nothing to give you except a cotton bag and a dirty bronze bowl which I got in my younger days from the junk yard of a rich lady.” After his father’s death, the boy continued begging, using the bowl his father had given him. One day a gold merchant dropped a coin in the boy’s bowl and he was surprised to hear a familiar clinking sound. “Let me check your bowl,” the merchant said. To his great surprise, he found that the beggar’s bowl was made of pure gold. “My dear young man," he said, “why do you waste your time begging? You are a rich man. That bowl of yours is worth at least thirty thousand dollars.”

Often, we Christians resemble the beggar boy who did not recognize or value his bowl. We overlook the boundless value of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, bestowing His gifts, fruits, and charisms. On this significant feast day, we are called to acknowledge and cherish the transformative, sanctifying, and fortifying presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is also a time to reaffirm the vows we made to God at our Baptism and Confirmation, to declare our faith, and to live it out.

Pentecost literally means 50th. It is a feast celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover feast by the Jews and a feast celebrated on the 50th day after the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus by the Christians. The Jewish Pentecost was originally a post- harvest thanksgiving feast. Later it was celebrated to remember God’s covenants with Noah after the Deluge and with Moses at Mt. Sinai.

Today we are celebrating a feast that was celebrated by many of the Jews who lived at the time of Jesus. Many of his early followers continued to celebrate it after the resurrection, and so it became part of the annual celebrations of all Christians. However, over the first few decades of the church, this feast took on a new meaning: Jesus has risen and ascended to the Father, but he promised us his Spirit.

Today's First Reading from The Acts of the Apostles recounts that, in obedience to Jesus' command, the Apostles stayed in Jerusalem to await the Holy Spirit. They devoted themselves to prayer and, led by Peter, selected someone to take the place of Judas, who had left their fellowship. Jesus, while on earth, had instructed them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the Father's promise. In adherence to this command, the disciples united in Jerusalem and witnessed a divine manifestation. Jesus' promise was realized when the disciples received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day, echoing the breath of God that animated the first creation. Luke heralds this event as the beginning of a new creation, ushering in the era of the Holy Spirit as the prevailing truth for humanity. The Holy Spirit's advent was marked by a sound akin to a mighty wind, so intense that it reached the ears of devout Jews from every nation residing in Jerusalem.

The Gospel reading from John shows Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit onto His disciples, empowering them for their mission. This gift of the Spirit is not just for our personal benefit but for the mission of the Church. We are called to be witnesses to the ends of the earth, sharing the message of Christ’s love and forgiveness. The Spirit gives us the courage and strength to fulfill this mission, even in the face of challenges and opposition.

Pentecost is not just a historical event; it is a living reality. The same Spirit that empowered the apostles is at work in us today. As we celebrate this feast, let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to transform us, unite us, and empower us for mission. May we use our diverse gifts for the common good and bear the fruits of the Spirit in our lives, becoming true witnesses of Christ in the world. 

As we celebrate Pentecost, we are reminded of the enduring presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Spirit empowers, guides, and sustains us in our journey of faith. In a world often divided by language, culture, and ideology, the Holy Spirit calls us to unity and mutual respect. We are challenged to be witnesses of God's love, breaking down walls of division and building bridges of understanding and compassion.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are as relevant today as they were on that first Pentecost. We are called to recognize and nurture these gifts within our communities – families etc. Let us be open to the movement of the Spirit, allowing it to transform us and to work through us in our daily lives.

On this Pentecost Sunday, let us pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church and upon each of us. May we be filled with the same boldness and zeal that the apostles experienced, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.

Let our prayer be - Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Happy Feast 

Ascension of Our Lord (Year B)

 Ascension of Our Lord May 12, 2024

Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20

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We celebrate the Ascension today. Does that mean that Jesus has left us, is gone? It is true we can no longer touch and see him as could the apostles and disciples. He no longer belongs to a small group but to everyone on earth who wants to accept him. He is now the Lord of all, the Lord of glory, and yet still one of us and very near, more intimate to ourselves than we are, the heart of our own heart, through his Spirit alive in us. We, the Church, have to continue the work he began and to bear witness that he is our living Lord. Let us listen to him speaking in this Eucharist and give glory to him and to the Father.

A little girl, on her way home from church, turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, the Preacher's sermon this morning confused me." The mother said, "Oh! Why is that?" The girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?" "Yes, that's true," the mother replied. "He also said that God lives within us. Is that true too?" Again, the mother replied, "Yes." "Well," said the girl. "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn't He show through?" Does Jesus really show through in your life and mine?

Today's feast honors our belief in Christ's presence throughout the universe and places it alongside the call for us to become the vessels through which this presence is revealed. It is His presence within us that imposes the duties of discipleship, compelling us to proclaim Him. The enigma of the Ascension lies in the inseparability of His presence within us and our testimony to Him.

The Ascension of our Lord, though an event from the distant past, leaves us with enduring words that compel us to be his witnesses in today's world, just as the first Apostles were. Therefore, the feast of the Ascension celebrates not a farewell, but the ongoing and dynamic presence of Jesus within the church. Jesus instructs his disciples to "make disciples" of all nations, thereby entrusting them with his mission and authority. This mandate will be solidified at Pentecost. The disciples are empowered to reconcile sinners with God and the community, discerning who may not yet be prepared for reconciliation and full community involvement. Today's Gospel outlines four elements of this mission: to evangelize by sharing the life and vision of Jesus, to perpetuate Jesus' healing work, both physical and spiritual, to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit, and to acknowledge the abiding presence of Jesus.

The Ascension holds deep spiritual truths that continue to resonate with us today.

First and foremost, the Ascension reminds us of the divinity of Christ. In his earthly life, Jesus walked among us, teaching, healing, and ministering to the needs of the people. But with his Ascension, he transcended the limitations of human existence and reclaimed his rightful place at the right hand of God. This momentous event reaffirms Jesus' identity as the Son of God and the fulfillment of divine prophecy.

Moreover, the Ascension signifies the completion of Jesus' mission on earth. From his birth in Bethlehem to his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus' life was dedicated to the salvation of humanity. Through his teachings and ultimate sacrifice, he offered us the promise of redemption and eternal life. And now, as he ascends to heaven, he entrusts us with the responsibility of continuing his work here on earth.

In this sense, the Ascension is not an ending but a new beginning. It marks the transition from Jesus' physical presence to his spiritual presence, which remains with us always. As he promised his disciples before ascending, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:20) In our moments of doubt and despair, we can take comfort in the knowledge that Christ is ever-present, guiding and sustaining us on our journey of faith.

Furthermore, the Ascension serves as a powerful reminder of our own destiny as followers of Christ. Just as Jesus ascended to heaven, so too are we called to lift our hearts and minds to higher things. We are called to transcend the limitations of our earthly existence and strive for the things that are above. As the Apostle Paul writes, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Col 3:2)

This does not mean that we are to neglect our earthly duties or responsibilities. On the contrary, our faith calls us to engage fully with the world around us, working to build a society that reflects the values of the kingdom of God. But at the same time, we are reminded that our ultimate allegiance lies not with the things of this world, but with our heavenly home.

Finally, the Ascension of Our Lord is a moment of profound mystery and wonder, inviting us to contemplate the divine majesty of Christ and the promise of our own salvation. As we journey through life, may we always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. And may we, like the disciples who witnessed his Ascension, be filled with joy and awe at the knowledge of his abiding presence in our lives.

Happy Feast