PENTECOST SUNDAY, YEAR A

Acts 1:1-11
Ps 103
1 Co. 12:3-7,12-13
John 20:19-23

PENTECOST: THE LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE 

We commemorate today the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. The event took place on Pentecost, the Jewish Harvest Festival or Feast of the Weeks, an occasion when the Jews recalled their covenant with God on Mount Sinai, fifty days after their liberation from Egypt.

In the gospel, the Risen Jesus appeared to his disciples on the evening of the day of the Resurrection. They had locked themselves in the room out of fear of the Jews. The Risen stood in their midst, gave them peace and said: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” To empower them for this mission of continuing his work on earth, Jesus breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit…” The disciples were filled with joy not only because they saw the Risen Lord, but also because they were renewed, recreated in the Holy Spirit.

As such, the transforming Pentecost experience was to confirm the Spirit they received on the Sunday of the Resurrection and to “outdoor” the Church. The symbolisms of wind and tongue of fire were significant. With the descending of the Holy Spirit, the Jesus’ group was henceforth open to everyone, freely involving anyone it comes across as the wind, having a burning and transforming power like fire. Thus, the Holy Spirit freed the disciples from cowardice and fear, empowering them to proclaim boldly the wonders of God to people of every language (Acts 1:1-11).

At our baptism, we too received the same Holy Spirit who gave each of us special gifts or charisms for the service and building up of the Body of Christ, the Church. Thus, our talents and special gifts are not for our self-aggrandizement. They are meant to help us work as a harmonious unit in which each contributes to the building of the community. It is the same Spirit that is working in us all, making us brothers and sisters in the Risen Lord. It is high time therefore to do away with our superiority complex, egoistic attitudes, divisions, unnecessary discriminations etc. and focus on accomplishing the mission entrusted to us.

May the Holy Spirit fall afresh on us, mold us, fill us and enable us to use our gifts and talents for true witnessing to Christ. Amen

7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A

Acts 1:12-14

Ps. 27

1 Peter 4:13-16

John 17:1-11

COMMUNING WITH GOD THROUGH PRAYER

Like the disciples in the Upper Room, the whole Church is waiting in prayer for the renewal of the Pentecost experience. Thus, the pervading theme of today’s readings is prayer. In the first reading, we see the disciples together in a continuous prayer. They were praying and waiting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit who would empower them to bear witness to Christ in spite of the persecutions that awaited them. The second reading invites all Christians to accept suffering and persecution as an opportunity to be more fully united with Christ’s sufferings and to glorify God. 

The gospel is an excerpt of Jesus' farewell prayer commonly known as Jesus’ high priestly prayer (John 17). Before facing the “hour” of his Passion and death, Jesus prayed to his Father not only for himself but also for his disciples. He prayed for their protection and unity. And he prayed for us too. He did so because even though we are in the world, we belong to God. And the essence of the eternal life to which we are called is to know and accept God as the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent into the world for our redemption. 

This knowledge is not simply reading and hearing about God and Jesus Christ. To know God is to have a deep personal experience of God and to accept his Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and personal Saviour. It is a life of a close and intimate relationship with God, a life of total surrender in faith and hope. It is however undeniable that we cannot achieve this without a life of prayer. In prayer, we dialogue with Him. Through prayer, we get connected to the amazing network of the Triune God. And this is made possible, thanks to the Holy Spirit. 

Therefore, as we wait in prayer for a renewed experience of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, let us ask the Lord to increase in us the awareness that we belong to Him. Let us always seek to be in his presence, and acknowledge his wonderful things in our lives. Amen

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17

Psalm 66

1 Peter 3:15-18

John 14:15-21 

YOU ARE NOT AN ORPHAN! 

This Sunday precedes the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, which will be celebrated next Thursday (21st May 2020), and will usher us into the immediate preparation for the celebration of Pentecost. As such, today’s readings make reference to the Holy Spirit, so as to prepare us gradually to the celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 

In the first reading, the apostles Peter and John went to Samaria to pray for the new believers. Then, they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. In the second reading, Peter speaks about the Pascal mystery of Christ saying: “Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit.” The Gospel picks up where last Sunday left off. In today’s passage, Jesus promises his disciples the coming of the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth. 

In this perspective, two lessons may be drawn from today’s readings. First, the Lord promises us not to leave us as orphans. He will send us the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to remain with us and be in us. The term “Advocate” or “Paraclete” refers to a person who stands by another, protects and supports him. It is a person who gives courage to face great difficulties, a person who comforts in difficult situations. Hence, we are never alone in our life even in the midst of great sufferings, challenges, trials and various kinds of persecutions. And this should be for us a source of great joy, assurance and hope.

Second, as St Peter encourages us, we are called to give testimony of this living hope that we have: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear.” A Christian is a person of hope; and he is called to give encouragement and hope to others. May the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete and Giver of life, come and remain in us. Amen. 

Remain blessed and stay safe !!!

5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A

Acts 6:1-7

1 Peter 2:4-9

John 14:1-12 

“Do not Let Your Hearts be Troubled”

Today’s liturgy of the Word offers us significant readings for a deeper understanding of our belongingness to Christ and to the Church. The first reading demonstrates how differences and conflicts can be resolved within the household of God. In effect, the Hellenist (Greek-speaking converts), complained that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. To resolve this, the Apostles convoked the believers and they chose seven brothers to be in charge of the daily service at table. This allowed the Apostles to devote themselves to prayer and the preaching of the Word (Acts 6:1-7). 

The second reading invites us to see ourselves as a spiritual house, built by God with Jesus as the cornerstone. God has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. He has made us a chosen race, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Our mission is to proclaim his mighty works and to offer ourselves as spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-9). 

In the gospel, the disciples became sad and disheartened when Jesus announced that he would be leaving them soon. Consequently, Jesus consoled them by assuring them that he was going to prepare dwelling places for them in his Father’s House. He then revealed himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life. In him, God’s presence among men is manifested, because whoever sees him sees God the Father (John 14:1-12).

Two lessons may be drawn from today’s readings. First, conflicts and misunderstandings are inevitable whenever two or more people come together. But our differences and diversities should become opportunities for growth and not occasions for divisions and distraction. Thus, any time misunderstandings and conflicts arise among us, let us choose dialogue with a sense of truth and justice as the golden way to safeguard our harmony and unity.

Second, sometimes it is difficult for us to allow ourselves to be consoled because of the injustices and discriminations we suffer or because of the anxieties, losses and various challenges we go through. But we need to allow Jesus’ words to always speak to our hearts: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” May these words become the source of our hope and consolation, especially in these trying moments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amen 

Remain blessed and stay safe !!!

4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A

Acts 2:14.36-4   

Ps 23: 1-3A, 3B,4,5,6

1 Peter 2:20-25

John 10:1-10

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

The fourth Sunday of Easter is commonly known as the Good Shepherd Sunday. Thus, every year, the gospel reading of this Sunday is taken from Jesus’ discourse on the Good Shepherd (John 10). Again, on this Sunday, the Church invites us to pray for vocation, hence the name “Vocations Sunday.” 

In the first reading, Peter concludes his proclamation on the Pentecost day. He announces that God has made the Crucified Jesus, Messiah and Lord. His whole proclamation was a call to conversion addressed to the Jews first, for the promise belonged to them and to their children, and then “to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” And indeed, on that day those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added to the flock of Jesus.

The second reading identifies Jesus Christ with the Suffering Servant who bore our sins so that he might reconcile us to God, for we had gone astray like sheep. Through his death on the cross, he, the Shepherd and guardian of our souls, has brought us back to God. 

Consequently, Jesus Christ is the unique gateway to eternal salvation, as expressed in the gospel image of the shepherd and his sheep. By saying that he is the gate for the sheep, Jesus tells us that he is the Good Shepherd, the source of our safety and salvation. He knows us. He cares for us, leads us and gives us fullness of life. This way, he fits perfectly the description of the responsorial psalm which introduces the Lord as the Good Shepherd of Israel, who cares for his sheep and provides for their needs. 

In this perspective, two lessons may be drawn from today’s readings. First, we are all called to be part of the fold of Jesus. As such, we must listen to his voice and follow him. Second, each of us is called to be a good shepherd like Jesus himself. For everyone has been called to play a specific role in the Christian community and in the society, as priests, religious, catechists, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials, caregivers, and so forth.  As such, we must care for those entrusted to us, lead them to Christ and not scare them away from him. May the Lord bless us so as to grow in our relationship with him, and grant us the grace to be good shepherds after his own heart. Amen 

Remain blessed and stay safe !!!