19 May, 2024 | Pentecost Sunday

 Acts 2:1-11, 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13

Gospel Jn 20:19-23

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."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

"Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,

and whose sins you retain are retained."

Reflections:

Jesus enters the room where the disciples are together and transforms them of their fear, disbelief and distress saying Peace be with you and receive the Holy Spirit. 

One of the biggest blessings we have received from God is the gift of the Holy Spirit. We live purely through the holy spirit which can be an obscure entity to understand but the holy spirit is what keeps us connected to God and it is our duty to kindle that connection with every passing day. If we ever feel disconnected from God or away from our faith the first step is to rekindle our connection with the holy spirit in us. In troubling days, the holy spirit is our light. In the sacrament of penance, we are forgiven our sins to the action of the holy spirit. Christ assures us that this power will never leave us so we have no reason to give up after a few bad incidents in our life. Rather the holy spirit goal moves us from mercy to transformation into Christ. Through the spirit Jesus will always strength our faith, enable us to witness and help us proclaim a powerful Gospel. In order to rekindle our connection with the holy spirit we must be forgivers. If we truly want to live purely, we must learn to forgive others and live in peace. The birth of the Church took place on this day when the disciples of Jesus were empowered by the Holy Spirit.  

Activity:

I'll embody Christ's peace and empowerment, extending forgiveness and reconciliation to others, thus exemplifying his love and fostering unity in my personal interactions.

 Hymn inviting the Holy Spirit at Pentecost