THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE APOSTLES
First Reading: Acts 2: 1-11
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 3-7 and 12-13
Gospel Reading: John 20: 19-23
*First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. A vivid and forceful account of the happenings on the day of Pentecost is narrated. The following details are mentioned: 1. There was a rush of a mighty wind and appearance of tongues of fire on each of the Apostles. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. 2 They received the gift of tongues and were able to speak in other languages. All who were present in Jerusalem were able to hear in their own native language. The mighty wind and tongues of fire are expressions of the powerful way in which the Spirit of God came down on the day of Pentecost. Speaking in different languages points to the fact that all man-made barriers between humans due to languages, cultures, regions and other differences are done away with by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit and God's community is united in the Spirit.
*Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christians in Corinth and us that the Holy Spirit gives various gifts to the members of the community. But these gifts are for the common good. Hence by the Holy Spirit all of us are baptized into the one body of Christ.
Receive the Holy Spirit Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The risen Lord's appearance to the disciples gathered in a closed upper room is narrated. After greeting them with the words of peace and showing them His pierced hands and side the risen Lord breathed on them and blessed them with the words, "Receive the Holy Spirit." Hence the risen Lord gave them the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the word of God boldly and powerfully. According to the biblical tradition, the wind and the Spirit signifies the breath of God. Hence Pentecost signifies a new creation and new beginning. Thus the Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. We too need the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in order to live as true followers of Christ in these challenging times. On this Pentecost let us pray with the words,' Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on us'.
"Bethlehem was God with us, Calvary was God for us, and Pentecost is God in us." - Robert Baer
"Pentecost is a celebration of God... a celebration of God's power... a celebration of God's desire to empower us and to dwell within us." - Mark Hart
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