For those of us who try to stay immersed in the Holy Spirit every day, today is our “BIG Game”!! Woo-Hoooo.!! **Were you able to finish your Pentecost Novena nice and strong?? I’ll admit, I had to play ‘catch-up’ a couple of times.
In our First Reading, Acts 2:1-11, Jesus has ascended… The Holy Spirit has arrived! I childishly imagined the Apostles being sent to their room for a “time-out” like a naughty child… But, a NINE-day time-out.? That’s brutal. Then again, there are days now that I’m 66 years old, I wish someone would send me to my room. GLADLY, I’ll go. 🙂 🙂
***When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. Suddenly, there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. **Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they quickly gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused. Each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in our own native language? We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”
***The manifestation of the Holy Spirit: Roaring wind, shaking the foundations, Fire, Tongues of fire, all nations, & separate Tongues of Nations (Speaking in Tongues). Our Holy Spirit, while being a separate person in the Trinity, will come to each of us, as just what we need. She will not disappoint!
In our Second reading from St. Paul, 1Cor 12:3-13; I call this the “We are many parts” discourse. But the strongest & most absolute statement, possibly of all Christendom, is the very first line. *”Brothers and sisters: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.'” While God the Father and ‘Ruah’ the Spirit patiently, yet diligently, brought us to Jesus, it is precisely Jesus, The Christ, that is the cornerstone! Jesus’ own words and deeds as the foundation for our Apostolic faith. Is the Spirit of Pentecost in you.?
Our Gospel today: JOHN 20:19-23; for me has been mildly confusing. I’m sure if I’m wrong, I’ll be set straight.
“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.”‘ **”This” sounds like Monday evening, the day after Easter Sunday. Yet, actual Pentecost, is still 50+ days away. Having said this, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into the boys….
“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.”’ ***IN my simplicity, I want to believe that, as much as Jesus perceived disbelief among the apostles, Jesus himself knew what He and the Father had planned, including His Ascension. While Jesus was still appearing to folks around town, He wanted to give the Apostles one more ‘personal’ gift. I believe Jesus truly desired for the Apostles to shake off the shackles of doubt… And feel the Fire of Confidence & Mission. It’s time for them to put their ‘big boy’ pants on.!! JOY- JOY- JOY- MARK “G”.
