PENTECOST SUNDAY, YEAR B

Acts 1:1-11

Psalm 103

Gal 5:16-25

John 15:26-27.16:12-15

PENTECOST : A Transforming Experience

The solemnity of Pentecost commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus. The event took place on the Jewish Harvest Festival or Feast of the Weeks, celebrated fifty days after the celebration of the Passover.

The coming of the Holy Spirit was in accordance with Jesus’ promise to his disciples. In his farewell discourse from which today’s gospel is excerpted, Jesus discloses three attributes that describe the work of the Holy Spirit. First, the Holy Spirit is the Paraclete, which means Advocate, Defensor, Comforter (read Luke 12:11-12). Second, he is the Spirit of Truth that proceeds from the Father. He will guide the disciples to the whole truth and reveal to them the truth he takes from Jesus. Finally, the Holy Spirit is a Witness of Christ, for he will bear witness to Christ and glorify him. He will also empower the disciples in order to bear witness to Christ (John 15:26-27.16:12-15).

As described by Luke in the first reading, the Pentecost event was obviously the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise. It was a spectacular and transforming experience, rich in symbolism. It showed that, as Jesus died for all, so the membership of the Church is universal. With the Pentecost event, 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, empowering the disciples to proclaim boldly the wonders of God to all peoples. This way, the Holy Spirit freed the disciples from cowardice and fear, and enabled them to bear witness to Christ (Acts 1:1-11).

We too have received the Holy Spirit at our baptism. He did not only transform our lives, making us sons and daughters of God, but he also made us members of the Church and partakers of her mission. The Holy Spirit continues to teach and guide us. And the truth that he teaches is not a course of study but a way of life that finds concrete expression in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:16-25).

As we celebrate this wonderful event, let us ask the grace to be renewed and live by the Spirit of God. May he fall afresh on us, mold us, fill us and use us, so as to become true witnesses of Christ. Amen.

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Acts 1,15… 26

Psalm 102 (103)

1 John 4,11-16

John 17,11-19

COME, HOLY SPIRIT!

The period between the Lord’s Ascension and Pentecost is a period of waiting in prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Thus, like the disciples in the Upper Room, the Church is united in prayer for the renewal of the Pentecost experience.

In the first reading, the disciples gathered in the Upper Room and prayed that God himself would choose the one to replace Judas, the son of perdition. After the prayer, the community drew lots and the choice fell on Matthias, and he was listed among the apostles. Here, we see the implicit action of the Holy Spirit guiding the decisions of the nascent Church.

In the second reading, we are exhorted to live in the communion of love of the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit that we have received. For when we love each other, we become a reflection of God who is Love. It is also through love that we manifest our fidelity to the commandment of Christ.

This need for communion, unity and love among Christians is evident in Jesus' farewell discourse, but above all in his prayer known as Jesus’ priestly prayer (cf. John 17). In today's excerpt, Jesus prays for the unity among his disciples: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one…” He also prays for their consecration, protection and well-being so that they can faithfully accomplish their mission in the world.

Like the community of disciples, the Church also needs the assistance and guidance of the Holy Spirit to remain faithful to her Divine Bridegroom and united for the proclamation of the Gospel. Likewise, each of us needs the assistance of the Holy Spirit in his daily life. And it is in prayer that we can ask for the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Let us therefore pray the Lord to renew in us the gift of the Holy Spirit so that he may teach us everything and lead us day after day to his truth. May he enlighten us and help us make good decisions, both as individuals and as a Church, for the glory of God and for our sanctification. Amen

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Acts 10:25…48

Psalm 97

1 John 4:7-10

John 15:9-17

LIVING AND DYING FOR LOVE 

In his message to the youth of France in June 1980, Pope John Paul II said: “the history of mankind is a history of the need to love and to be loved”. Indeed, the inner longing of every human person is to love and to be loved. For we were created by God out of love, in love and for love. In fact, “God is love”, says Saint John in the second reading. He loved us 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, opened to all men, irrespective of their nationality or condition. By pouring his Spirit upon the pagans, God opened the door of faith to them through the ministry of Peter. Indeed, God excludes no one, but rather calls everyone to friendship with him. His love breaks the barriers of our prejudice and sufficiency (Acts 10:25…48).

In the gospel, Jesus gives us a commandment: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you”. He has loved us by making us his friends, laying down his life for our sake. Thus, what is specific of Jesus’ love is that he loved us to the end and gave his life for us (John 15:9-17). Thus, in order to experience his love and remain in it, we must love one another. In other words, to be loved, one must love; to receive God’s love manifested in Jesus Christ, we must give love to our brothers and sisters.

But what does it mean to love? To love means seeking the good of the other for the sake of the other; rejoicing in the good and success of the other. It means excluding selfishness, pride, envy and destructive jealousy so as to create space for others in my life. It also means realizing my deepest aspirations by living not for myself, but for others. 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 bless us and teach us how to love as he loves us. Amen

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Acts 9: 26-31  

Psalm 21 

1 John 3:18-24 

John 15:1-8

ABIDING IN JESUS CHRIST

On this fifth Sunday of Easter, we meditate on Jesus’ discourse on the vine and its branches (John 15:1-8). Jesus uses this image to talk about the network of relationships that characterizes the Christian life, inviting us to abide in him so as to bear much fruits. The fact is this: you are either connected to Christ or you are disconnected from him. If you abide in him, you will bear much fruits. But if you do not abide in him, you become fruitless and sterile. You go from frustration to frustration, from crisis to crisis, for a life without Christ is a life full  of crises: “For without me, you can do nothing”, says Jesus.

Thus, Jesus’ emphasis is on the absolute necessity for us to abide in him. He is the vine. We are the branches. God the Father is the vine grower. Consequently, the fruitfulness of our life depends on our connectedness with him. We must therefore remain always connected to him. We must develop a personal relationship with him through prayer, listening to the Word of God, participating in the celebration of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and doing good to one another. To remain in Jesus also means finding a reason to live and hope in spite of challenges. It is to make him our shelter, our dwelling, our security. 

Furthermore, to abide in Jesus means keeping his word that calls us to love one another (1 John 3:18-24). To abide in Jesus has therefore a social dimension. Sometimes, it implies integrating sinners, the rejected and the marginalized into our community. Other times, it means forgiving others and lettting go our weapons of revenge, resentment and anger, letting go the wounds they might have inflicted on us.

This is exemplified in the first reading. It took the intervention of Barnabas for Paul, a former persecutor of Christians, to be accepted into the community of believers in Jerusalem, despite his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9: 26-31). As such, our intimacy with Christ must always be translated in concrete actions so that we may love one another, “not in word or speech but in deeds and truth.” May the Lord help us to abide in him so as to bear fruits to the glory of God. Amen