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Sunday, May 30, 2004

Meditation
John 20:19-23

Pentecost

On this great day of celebration, we are brought back to the upper room to be with the disciples when they first met the risen Jesus. John tells us that when Jesus came to them, he showed them his hands and side, and that this is what caused the disciples to rejoice (John 20:20). There was something about seeing Jesus’ wounds—now glorified—that pierced their hearts.

We don’t have to look too hard to identify the work of the Holy Spirit here. It was the Spirit who showed the disciples that Jesus didn’t just come back from the dead but that he had defeated death and had been declared Lord of heaven and earth. And this revelation filled them with joy and excitement. By the Spirit, they realized that because of Jesus’ wounds, they too could be filled with divine life, just as Jesus their Master was.

This is the kind of revelation that the Holy Spirit wants to give all of us. This is what Pentecost is all about. Whenever we pray, whenever we go to Mass, the Spirit wants to reveal Jesus to us in an exciting and ever-deepening way. He wants to break down the walls in our hearts that keep us trapped in a narrow, shallow understanding of Jesus and his plan for us. And he does this so that he can form us into a people so on fire with love for him that we would risk anything for him.

We don’t have to fear the Holy Spirit. He may come in fire, but only to burn away the things that keep us from seeing Jesus. We can carry so much “baggage” in our hearts—fears, anxieties, and resentments that keep us from Jesus. By the power of Jesus’ cross, the Holy Spirit wants to lighten our load so that we can embrace Jesus as our just and loving Savior who wants the very best for us.

“Jesus, I want to be aflame with love for you. I want to rejoice in you just as the apostles did. Holy Spirit, burn away everything that keeps me from your presence. Come, Spirit, and give me a new revelation of Jesus.”

One Bread, One Body

All Issues > Volume 20, Number 3

<< Sunday, May 30, 2004 >>

Pentecost

Acts 2:1-11
1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13

Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34
John 20:19-23

View Readings

WOULD YOU DIE FOR PENTECOST?

“When the day of Pentecost came it found them gathered in one place.” —Acts 2:1

Father Otto Rauschenbach, a Maryknoll missionary in South China, was killed by bandits on May 14, 1945. Because of the war, Father Otto had to hide in the mountains. He knew that if he came out of hiding, he was risking his life. Yet Father wanted to celebrate Pentecost with his people so he tried to return to his parish (cf Lk 22:15). However, he was murdered before he got to his parish and before he could celebrate Pentecost Mass.

Would you risk your life to celebrate Pentecost? Do you believe that a new Pentecost is so essential for your life that it is worth dying for? Pentecost is essential because, without the Holy Spirit of Pentecost, we:

will not be united (see Gn 11:7ff; Acts 2:8ff) and the world will not believe in Jesus (Jn 17:21),
will not prophesy, that is, we will not receive messages from God (Jl 3:1; Acts 2:17-18),
will not pray as we ought (Rm 8:26),
will not have the power to witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8),
cannot say: “Jesus is Lord” (1 Cor 12:3) and therefore cannot be saved (Rm 10:9),
cannot please God (Rm 8:8), and
will not have the Spirit’s gifts or fruit (1 Cor 12:4ff; Gal 5:22ff).

We need Pentecost and we need a new Pentecost now. “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22).

Prayer: “Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from Your celestial home shed a ray of light divine! Come, Father of the poor! Come, Source of all our store! Come, within our bosoms shine!” (Pentecost sequence)

Promise: “All of us have been given to drink of the one Spirit.” —1 Cor 12:13

Praise: Praise the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, our Hope!