30.05.2004 Pentecoste Sunday - Year C
First Reading: Acts 2, 1-11 Psalm 103
Second Reading: Romans 8, 8-17 Gospel Reading: John 14, 15-16, 23-26
Today what Jesus promised more than once to his Apostles and disciples, took
place. The Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, Spirit of truth, descended from heaven
and entered the lives of those who had known and loved Jesus. They were waiting
for this, just as the Lord had told them to. They were waiting for the Consoler,
defender, inner master, encourager and advisor. The term Jesus used means all
that and more. The Spirit is the Spirit of God and, therefore, entering the
life of a person, that person is altered beyond recognition.
In this way the Apostles were transformed. They became courageous, wise, determined,
capable of communion, aware of the needs of others, joyful, strong, gentle and
humble. Above all they became able to testify the death and resurrection of
Jesus, to talk of it with joy, to dedicate their lives to the spreading of this
news. They experimented that from faith in Jesus' death and resurrection, comes
life, peace, communion, faith, love and hence they were convinced that true,
full love for men could only be expressed by proclaiming the love that God gave
us in Jesus Christ!
Today we invoke the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that God Himself wishes to give
us. In the two short gospel readings Jesus reminds us that the Father sends
the Spirit in his name, because Jesus himself asked him to do so.
Let us open our hearts therefore and receive this gift, that Jesus wishes will
stay with us for ever. It's presence unites us, makes us sons of God, brothers.
It's presence makes us a holy Church, habitation of God, a holy temple. To understand
and appreciate this gift we must leave the materialistic, hedonistic and egoistic
way of considering life, we must leave the current that our environment draws
us to. This environment is very similar to the closed room in which the Apostles
were: a closed room, full of ghosts, of fear, of loneliness, of worries for
the future, for health and all material things. May the invocation of the Spirit
rise from our hearts: come, Holy Spirit!
Let us invoke the Holy Spirit for ourselves and for our brother, for the Church,
for the unity of Christians, for the whole world.
Come Holy Spirit, make us Christians determined witnesses for Jesus!
Come to give Christian couples faith and joy, reciprocal faithfulness and joy
in giving life.
Come to clothe our young people in simplicity, in truth, in generosity, make
them strong to prepare their family lives with purity and seriousness.
Come to reveal to them the Father's plans, that they might know the beauty of
life listening to Your advice and to the calls of God!
Come to put Your words in the mouths of children, so that the proud will be
silenced.
Come to purify the hearts of the rich from the desires which produce suffering
around them and in them!
Come, Holy Spirit, and give the worlds of the Lord to those who are willing
to live them, come to console those who are tempted to abandon their faith,
to strengthen those who are tempted to accept the ways of the world instead
of obeying your holy word.
Come to illumine the minds of the aged so that they are not downcast at the
little attention given them by the world.
Come to convert me and orient me towards Jesus, to take away distractions and
superficiality. The Holy Spirit as St Paul says speaks from within to the Father
and shows us what true prayer is. In this way we become true men, true children,
aware that we are loved by God as children and happy, therefore, to call him
Father!
Today our desire for Pentecost is renewed, that the fire of the Spirit should
continue to bring light to the world and to prophetic tongues and to announce
the love of God which is manifest in Jesus! And this desire will become a constant
prayer in our hearts.
We thank the Father for the Spirit which he gives us, sanctifies us, fills us
with joy, and prepares us for the full and eternal Holy Communion that we will
enjoy in heaven with all the saints.