PENTECOST SUNDAY, YEAR B

Acts1:1-11
Psalm 103
Galatians 5:16-25
John 15:26-27.16:12-15

THE TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

The solemnity of Pentecost commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. The event took place on Pentecost, the Jewish Harvest Festival, an occasion when the Jews recalled their covenant with God on Mount Sinai, fifty days after their escape from Egypt.

This day was announced by Jesus Christ. For he promised the disciples that he would send them the Paraclet, the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit would glorify him, bear witness to him and empower the disciples also to bear witness to him. The Holy Spirit would teach them the ways of God and lead them to the whole truth (John 15:26-27.16:12-15).

The first reading narrates the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise. As described by Luke, the Pentecost event was a spectacular and transforming experience. The Holy Spirit opened the closed doors of the Church to everyone, freely involving anyone it comes across as the wind, having a burning and transforming power like fire, empowering men and women to proclaim the wonders of God to all peoples. This way, he freed the disciples from cowardice and fear, and empowered them to speak freely about the wonders of God (Acts 1:1-11).

We too have received the Holy Spirit at our baptism. We are therefore called to live by the Spirit, to bear fruits and outdo all the works of the fresh (Gal 5:16-25). Our lives are to be living testimonies to the wonders of God. For each of us is a miracle of God’s grace given to us in the Holy Spirit. It is high time therefore to come out of our self-inflicted prisons caused by fear, selfishness, wickedness, divisions, etc so as to preach fearlessly the love of God to all.

May the Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on us, mold us, fill us and use us, enabling us to be true witnesses of Christ. Amen.

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Acts 1:15…26 
Psalm 102
1 John 4:11-16 
John 17:11

             PRAY LIKE JESUS

The period between the Lord’s Ascension and Pentecost is a period of waiting in prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus himself. 

In the first reading, the Apostles prayed God to choose the one to replace Judas Iscariot, the traitor. The lot fell on Matthias, who was then listed among the Twelve. Here we see the implicit action of the Holy Spirit guiding the decisions of the nascent Church. 

In the second reading, we are called to abide in the love of God, by loving one another. This communion with God is made possible by the Holy Spirit, which is the gift of God to us. It is therefore love that makes God present in us. 

The gospel is an excerpt of Jesus’ prayer commonly known as Jesus’ Priestly Prayer (John 17). This prayer shows how dear we are to Jesus. This is the mystery of Christian prayer: Jesus Christ prays for us, in us and with us. And this is our consolation and security: our Lord has prayed for  us and continues to pray for us, for he is now seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us.    

We must therefore strive to tighten our relationship with the Lord through prayer. It is in prayer that we can experience the loving care of God. It is in prayer that we can ask for guidance of the Holy Spirit in everything we do as individuals or as a Church. A Christian cannot live without prayer. Let us therefore make prayer the air we breathe and ask the Holy Spirit to direct us in making the right decisions at the right moments. 

Amen 

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Acts 10:25…48
Ps 97
1 John 4:7-10
John 15:9-17

FRIENDS OF JESUS CHRIST

The inner longing of every man and woman is to love and to feel loved. For we were created out of love, in love and for love, by a God who is love. In effect, the second reading gives us another name of God: love. “God is love”. He loved us first and gave us his only Son for our salvation. As such, those who truly love are sons and daughters of God (1 John 4:7-10).

In the first reading, this love of God is proven boundless, open to all men, irrespective of their nationality. God has no favourite, but accepts anyone who fears him and does what is right. Thus, by pouring his Spirit upon the pagans, whom Jews considered unworthy of God’s mercy, love and salvation, God broke the barriers of our prejudice and self-sufficiency (Acts 10:25…48).

Similarly, Jesus in the gospel invites his followers to love one another as he has loved us. What is specific of the love of Christ is that he loved us to the end and gave his life for us. He has made us his friends (John 15:9-17). He is the only selfless, faithful, loyal and true friend.

This way, Jesus invites us to experience love in its true sense: a love that overcomes fear, selfishness, and pride. A love that seeks the good of the other for the sake of the other. A love that endures and forgives. It is only when we love in this way that we become true friends of Jesus. Anything apart from this is a caricature of love. 
May the Lord Jesus teach us how to love as he loves us. Amen