The Feast of Pentecost: B: May 19, 2024

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 convincing account of the happenings on the day of Pentecost is narrated. The following details are mentioned: 1. There is a rush of a mighty wind and the appearance of tongues of fire on each of the Apostles. All of them are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. 2. They receive the gift of tongues and are able to speak in other languages. All who are present in Jerusalem from different parts of the world are able to listen to the Apostles in their own native language. The mighty wind and tongues of fire are expressions of the powerful way in which the Spirit of God comes down on the day of Pentecost. Speaking in different languages points to the fact that all man-made barriers of languages, cultures, regions and other differences are done away with by the powerful and mighty presence of the Holy Spirit. Now on, God's community is united in the Spirit of God. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Corinth and to us that the Holy Spirit dispenses various gifts to the members of the Christian community. But these gifts are for the common good. Hence, by the power of 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 breaths on them and blesses them with the words, "Receive the Holy Spirit". Hence, the risen Lord infuses them with 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 a new beginning. The day of Pentecost is hence the birth day 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. Let our prayer be, '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 

The Feast of Ascension of the Lord: B: May 12, 2024

                       THE ASCENSION OF JESUS

First Reading: Acts 1: 1-11

Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 17-23

Gospel Reading: Mark 16: 15-20

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. A description of the various apparitions of  the risen Lord on different occasions after His resurrection is narrated in detail. After a period of forty days, Jesus ascends to heaven and He promises His disciples that He will send the Holy Spirit upon them. He asks them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world. As they listened to Him, Jesus is lifted up to heaven and a cloud takes Him out of their sight.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul explains the meaning and the significance of the Ascension of the Lord to the Ephesian Christian community. He asserts that God raised Jesus above all earthly powers and made Him not only the head of the Church but the Lord of the whole creation. Those who believe in Him will accomplish great things. 

The risen Lord is taken up to heaven                                                    Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. After instructing the disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is taken up to heaven and He sits at the right hand of God. On His final day in this world, the Lord commissions His disciples to carry on the work that He began in the world. The Ascension of Jesus tells us that He is no longer physically present among His disciples. From now on, they are to proclaim His teachings to the whole world. The feast of Ascension should give us hope of a life after death. It should as well strengthen us by the abiding presence of the risen Lord among His followers. Hence, the following messages are given by this Feast: 1. The risen Lord is now in His glory and He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. 2. Jesus assures us that after His Ascension, He will send the Holy Spirit to guide us and to strengthen us. 3. Jesus promises us that even after being ascended into heaven, He will continue to be with us till the end of the world: By the word of God and His sacramental presence in the Holy Eucharist. 4. Jesus' Ascension gives us the assurance that one day all who believe in Him will participate in His glory. 

"At His Ascension our Lord entered Heaven and He keeps the door open for humanity to enter."  - Oswald Chambers

"Ascensions into heaven are like falling of leaves, sad and happy all at the same time. Going away isn't really sad especially when your going enables a new kind of presence to be born." - Ernest Hemingway

Sixth Sunday of Easter B: May 5, 2024

         JESUS' COMMANDMENT OF LOVE

First Reading: Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35 and 44-48

Second Reading: 1 John 4: 7-10

Gospel Reading: John 15: 9-17

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. A vivid account of the conversion and baptism of Cornelius, a non-Jew and a Roman Centurion with his family is given. While St. Peter speaks to them about Jesus and His ministry, Holy Spirit comes down on them. This incident explicitly reveals to the Apostles that God is not selective in His love and He wants everyone to be saved. His salvation is open to all people and all nationalities. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. John. John makes a very important statement about God: That God is love in its fullness. The proof of God's love for humankind is that He sent His only Son into the world to give us eternal  life and make expiation for the sins of the whole humanity.

'Love one another as I have loved you'                                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. Jesus expresses His deep love for His beloved disciples. In return, their love for Him is to be expressed by keeping His commandments. Jesus in this context is not speaking about the ten commandments which were given to Moses by the Lord God on Mount Sinai. In the Gospels we have definite guidelines and sign-posts so as to keep His commandments in our day to day lives. They could be summarized in the following manner: 1. Do not return evil for evil. Nothing is achieved by revenge and retaliation. 2. Do not judge others. Leave the judgements to God. 3. Do not worry about food , drink and cloths as if these are the most important things in life. Our primary concern should be to live as Christ wants us to. 4. Do not look back once you have decided to follow Jesus. 5. Let your light shine before everyone. 6. Love your enemies: Not just your friends and cronies. 7. Give and you will receive in abundance. 8. Forgive everyone who sins against you. 9. Take this bread and eat it. Take this cup and drink it. Eucharist is the primary nourishment to live as followers of the Lord. 10. Finally, love one another as I have loved you. If we follow these do's and don'ts then probably we will be able to fulfill the commandment of love given by the Lord. 

"Hungry for love, He looks at you.                                                                                                              Thirsty for kindness, He begs you.                                                                                                            Homeless for shelter in your heart, He asks you.                                                                                      Will you be that one to Him?" - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta