Peace…
May 15, 2005 Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday (A) - Red
First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104
"Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth."
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13
Gospel: John 20:19-23
Sequence: Veni, Creator Spiritus (to be sung/proclaimed before the Gospel)
"Peace be with you…Receive the Holy Spirit…"
The descent of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of the Church. Today, we celebrate the birthday of the Church, the People of God. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit, who descended upon the Apostles through tongues of fire, enabled them to speak in different languages yet, they speak of one subject, that is the mighty acts of God. Diversity of languages is highlighted, hence, there is no understanding among each other. However, because they speak of one faith, they are united with each other. Hence, the Holy Spirit enables unity in diversity among the peoples of the Church.
Pentecost also marks the end of the Paschal Mystery. Today, we solemnly wave goodbye to the Easter Season, and welcome the Ordinary Time of the Year. The faith, which is fundamentally rested on the mystery of the resurrection, bears its firstfruits through the working of the Holy Spirit. The firstfruits of this faith is to be carried out through the world. They may only carry out this faith if and only if they believe in the faith that is the mystery of the Risen Christ, who made salvation possible to everyone through his sufferings on the cross and the glory of his resurrection. Hence, the fruits of the Easter season is fundamentally fulfilled in the event of Pentecost.
The mystery of Pentecost, that of peace, is achieved through the belief in Christ’s mission. The Holy Spirit brings peace to each one of us. He enables us to continue Christ’s mission on earth - that is of opening closed doors to God. This peace that we gain must be given and shared to others through our mission in the Church. Hence, Pentecost is an inauguration of our mission as members of Christ’s Mystical Body.
Living as Christians
The Holy Spirit continues to live in us. The Holy Spirit leads us to a greater awareness of the Church’s salvific mission. Let us share in this mission by our loving service to one another. Let us share the peace that the Holy Spirit gave the apostles during the first Pentecost by being harbingers of peace in this world.
