Pentecost Sunday
28th May 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 2:1-11
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested 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 was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, 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, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
R/. Lord, send forth your spirit, and renew the face of the earth. Or: Alleluia.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7
no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in 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 activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 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 in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Gospel : John 20:19-23
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked 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 am sending 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 them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: PENTECOST
Indicative: We celebrate the great feast of Pentecost.It marks the unique day when the Holy Spirit descends and fills the receivers with power. {alertSuccess}
1. In fact, this was the promise of Jesus. As Jesus was leaving the earth at the completion of his human mission, he repeatedly comforted his disciples that he would not leave them as orphans that he would send them the Holy Spirit. Thus he assured them his continued presence through the Spirit.
2. Therefore, the descent of the Holy Spirit is the greatest assurance and sign of God’s own presence, guidance, and power. Pentecost is the initiation of this great outpouring of the Spirit. It is the beginning of a new era, a new time of the Spirit, a new mode of living, walking by the Spirit, living in the realm of the Spirit.
3. In recent times, there is certainly so much revival, vigour, and enthusiasm, which are all concrete signs of the power of the Spirit. But beware! There is always the danger to limit the Holy Spirit only to these external demonstrations and expressions. The Holy Spirit is not only some eloquent preaching, some animated and moving prayers, some evocative intercessions, some touching devotion, some powerful healing, some impressing gift of tongue, some happening prophesying, a great mass appeal and gathering huge crowds.
4. Certainly, as the Spirit is powerful and vivacious, it can have such great external impacts. But the sad thing is, the Spirit is so much confined only to these factors, so much domesticated only to these, so much so that only some groups claim to be charismatic groups, filled by the Spirit, and the others are labelled as ordinary mortals, or only some prayer modes are Spirit-powered modes, and the other prayer ways are just the ordinary.
5. We see in all this, two unhappy tendencies: reduction and arrogance. That is, reducing the Holy Spirit ultimately to powerful preaching and wonders, and also nurturing a disguised spiritual pride of possessing the Spirit to use it at one’s liking.
6. And the greatest sad effect of such tendencies is, a failure to renew life. In other words, there is so much demonstration of the power of the Spirit in different spiritual activities, but hardly any real change in concrete life. The power of the Spirit is predominantly restricted to the spiritual zone, with no inflow into the daily life zone. This creates a wide gap and abyss between spiritual power and success but actual weakness and value failure.
7. The whole issue is that these spiritual activities and powers do not guarantee a good and holy life. Just listen to how clearly Jesus brings to attention this fact: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not speak in your name? Did we not cast out devils and perform many miracles in your name? Then I will tell them openly: I have never known you; away from me, you evil people!” (Mt 7. 22-23).
8. Therefore we must sincerely question and see: How much the power of the Spirit is challenging and changing my weaknesses? How much spiritual illumination to cite many quotations enlightens and guides me and us for the right thoughts, attitudes, decisions, and actions? How much expertise and eloquence of preaching the Word leads to practice the Word in real life? How much the Spirit makes us grow in honesty, in patience, in unity, in generosity, in purity, in holiness, in serenity, in self-control – this is the whole issue.
9. Claiming to be filled and empowered by the Spirit but living exactly contrary to the fruits of the Spirit, in grudges and resentments, in needless tensions and disturbances, in anger and impatience, in dishonesty and cheating, in impurity and malice, in criticism and slander, in indifference and selfishness, in greed and grabbing, in division and discrimination, in pride and false dignity, in self-glory and cheap popularity – is this the Holy Spirit? What kind of Spirit this is? Great display of the gifts of the Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 12. 4-11)! But where is the witness to the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5. 22-23).
Imperative: Let us not limit the Holy Spirit. Let us not drain his power. Let us not dilute his role. Let us not tame him to suit our convenience and advantage. Let us not privatize him to project and promote self-glory.{alertSuccess}