Pentecost ~ Rdgs & Reflection

The Readings:
June 12, 2011
Liturgical Year A, Cycle I
Pentecost Sunday
First Reading: Acts 2:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
Gospel: John 20:19-23


These readings can be viewed at http://www.usccb.org/nab/061211a.shtml.


Gospel Reflection



Happy birthday! This Sunday is the great feast of Pentecost in the life of the Church. Pentecost (which literally means ‘fifty days’) was a Jewish feast that the disciples were celebrating. (For more information on the Jewish tradition of this feast, go to http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11661a.htm.) For us as Christians, Pentecost celebrates the birthday of the Church. It was the day in which the Holy Spirit was given to the Church, giving us the ability to be ‘born again’ in Christ through the Spirit. The reading from Acts describes the scene on the day of Pentecost. Since this event is not recorded in the four Gospels (remember the Acts is written by Luke, who wrote one of the Gospels), the Church gives us one of the most important passages in the Gospels in which Jesus describes for us a giving of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. Although this passage is short, there are some profound things we can learn about Jesus' Resurrection and the purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives. First, we see that even though the doors were locked, Jesus still got inside. Perhaps He had a spare key? Maybe He "jimmied" the door and snuck in? The doors would have been greatly secured because the disciples were in fear for their lives. St. John wants to show us that the only way Jesus could get in was to supernaturally enter the room. Yes, He has a body, but it is not bound to the laws of nature the way our bodies are. Jesus enters and says ‘peace’ to the disciples for at least two reasons. First they must have been scared when they saw Him alive in their presence. Second, Jesus' entire ministry is about peace, not political peace, but bringing peace in our hearts. The disciples saw His hands and side - although the Gospel describes them as rejoicing, could words ever describe the elation they must have felt? Jesus then sends His disciples to forgive sins. The Church has always seen this event as the beginning of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where the Apostles (and their successors, the bishops), are given the authority to forgive sins. This should be a cause of joy to all of us, because no matter the depths of our sins, God is eagerly looking to forgive us. We see in this Gospel that the purpose of giving us the Spirit is to reconcile us with God, making us His children. Our invitation this Pentecost Sunday is to examine our lives to see if we are living as God’s children to the fullest of our potential. Many times we tend to place our relationship with God on the back-burner. The call we have this Pentecost is to respond to Jesus fully, not putting any barriers to His love in our lives.


Reflection Questions


1. From the First reading in Acts, describe the setting in which the Apostles were "hanging out". Note how and why they were in fear.
2. The risen Christ brought the disciples peace and the Holy Spirit. Describe your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Do you have one? What can you do to grow in the Holy Spirit? How has the Holy Spirit helped you to get closer to Christ? (Give practical examples.)
3. How does the forgiveness of sins bring peace in your life? Describe.