Solemnity of the Pentecost

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. – Galatians 5:25

       I got excited when I heard that Nick Vujicic was coming to the Philippines. Nick is an Australian motivational speaker born with a rare condition — he does not have any limbs. However, his speaking ability and positive outlook in life totally overshadow his physical limitations. I wanted to see him personally, but more importantly, I wanted my children to learn something from him.

       My excitement turned into sadness when I learned that tickets were already sold out. But by God’s grace, we were able to get tickets through the help of friends. Our next challenge was going to the venue in Quezon City from our place in Parañaque. The event was also on a weekday so we could only leave after school and work. It was a pleasant surprise that we met heavy traffic only on isolated intersections. We arrived on time!

       After the event, I asked my 12-year-old son, Jason, what he learned from Nick. All the effort to see Nick in person was worth it when he said, “To go for your dreams no matter what!” We are given choices each day. We can choose what’s more comfortable but we won’t gain anything. Or we can choose the harder route, pray for God’s guidance and learn something valuable. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Do the choices you make focus on yourself or on Jesus?

My Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. May all my decisions today point back to You. Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, pray for us.

The grace of receiving the Holy Spirit is the same for all baptized men and women. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live as disciples of Jesus. We receive the same Spirit as the Apostles did in their time. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can also do today what the Apostles did before.

1 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. 3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. 6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, 11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”

Psalm 104:1, 24, 31, 34, 29-30

R: Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, you are great indeed! 24 How manifold are your works, O Lord! The earth is full of your creatures. (R) 31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord be glad in his works! 34 Pleasing to him be my theme; I will be glad in the Lord. (R) 29 If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. (R)

Paul knew the power of the Spirit at work within him. He experienced a dramatic conversion that turned his life around. He surrendered to God’s grace and became one of the most effective evangelists of the Church. Surrendering to the grace of the Spirit requires much humility, as it means allowing the grace of God to guide our choices in life.

3 Brothers and sisters: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 5 there are different forms of service but the same Lord; 6 there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7 To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. 12 As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, is one body, so also Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

We are sons and daughters of God by the grace of the Holy Spirit. God adopted us and what He desires for His own Son, Jesus, He also bestows on us. Let us obey and surrender to His will so that the Holy Spirit is free to direct our actions. This is what it means to embrace the life of a disciple of Jesus.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

John 20:19-23 (or John 15:26-27; 16:12-15)

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

think: We are sons and daughters of God by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Samuel 25-28

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A NEW PENTECOST

Happy birthday, Church! Fifty days after the celebration of the Easter Vigil, we are now celebrating Jesus’ greatest gift to us — the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to live fully as a faithful Christian. In the life of the Church, we celebrate the event that empowered the Apostles 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection.

       The story of the Pentecost is given to us annually from Acts 2:1-11, according to Luke the Evangelist. He describes it as a  spectacular event in his wonderful artistic style of storytelling. All the Apostles are in the Upper Room, the same place where Jesus had His Last Supper. They are praying for the promise of the Father. All of them are filled with the Holy Spirit. Light, wind and noise fill the room — a wonderful event beyond all telling.

       The famous prayer of St. John XXIII at the opening of the Council remains the same for us today: “Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.” Similarly, years later, we hear a testimony of a young student asking for the grace of Pentecost. In her own words, Patti Gallagher Mansfield says: “Lord, I believe I’ve already received your Spirit in baptism and confirmation. But if it’s possible for Your Spirit to be more at work in my life than He’s been up until now, I want it!” She continues: “Like the Apostles after Pentecost, we couldn’t help but speak of the things we had seen and heard. We literally stumbled into Charismatic gifts like prophecy, discernment of spirits, and healing. One of our professors witnessed to his friends at Notre Dame and Michigan State University in these words: ‘I no  longer have to believe in Pentecost; I have seen it!’”

       Let us once again pray with inspiration the prayer of St. John XXIII. Let us have the same inspiration of Patti Gallagher Mansfield that we, too, will receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTION: How can you be open to the New Pentecost in your life?

Light Immortal, Light Divine, visit Thou these hearts of thine and our inmost being fill. Amen. (Taken from Sequence of Pentecost)