Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Pentecost Sunday Year C – June 9, 2019

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1ab.29bc-30.31.34(R.30); 

Romans 8:8-17 & Gospel John 14:15-16.23b-26.

Theme - Pentecost: The Celebration of Unity in Diversity!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, today is Pentecost Sunday - The day that the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles in forms of tongues of fire. Pentecost can be traced to 33AD. The day marks the official beginning of the Church (Catholic) (Cf.Acts 2:1-4, 38-42). This day is reminds us that the Catholic Church has 2019 years behind her. The celebration of Pentecost also known as “WhitSunday” dates back to the 4^th century. The word Pentecost comes from the Greek “Pentekoste which means fiftieth. It was the second of the 3 most important annual feasts in Jewish calendar which occurred 7 weeks after the Passover and was primarily a feast of thanksgiving for harvest; first fruits of wheat crop were offered to God on that day. It later came to be associated with the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai.”

All Jews at home and in the diaspora were expected to attend. As such, there was no fitting day for the descent of the Holy Spirit than this day. This is dramatic event that the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles talks about. Being the birthday of the Church, the event presents us with five elements which are crucial for our reflection- They are: Formation of the Church, variety of gifts in the Church, unity as an indispensable ingredient of faith in the Church, manifestation of the Spirit among believers and the abiding presence of the Spirit in the Sacraments. Before we delve into the pastoral lessons for this Sunday, it is imperative to glance through the readings:

Background & Summary of the Readings

The first reading (Acts 2:1-11) recounts the Pentecost event: It tells how the Holy Spirit came down on the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire. It also reveals that they began to speak in tongues. We are told that devout men and women who were living in Jerusalem assembled at the sound only for each one to hear these men speaking in his own language. They were amazed that people from different parts of the world could hear the apostles in their native language speaking about the marvels of God.

In the second reading (Romans 8:8-17), St. Paul stresses that those who live according to their inclinations cannot please God. He charges all to live by the Spirit of God. He notes that when Christ is in the believer, even though the body is dead to sin, the spirit is alive because the person is justified by Christ. He maintains that we have no obligation to human nature which leads to sin and slavery and urged all to receive the spirit of adoption. He surmises that we are heirs of God and join-heirs with Christ so long as we share in his sufferings, so as to share in his glorification.   

 

The gospel narrates how Jesus insists that anyone who loves him must keep his commandments. He assures that he would ask the Father who would give us the Paraclete to be with us forever. He further discloses that the words he speaks are not his but those of the Father and called on the faithful to be guided by the Spirit Holy sent by Father who will remind the world about everything that Jesus said.

    

Fivefold Elements of Pentecost Sunday

  

1. Formation of the Church: Pentecost Sunday marks the birthday of the Catholic Church. Catholics believe this teaching because of the testimony of the scriptures as well as Church historians. Those who hold a contrary opinion often begin their Church history from the Reformation (31 October 1517). However, biblical accounts relate that Christ started his ministry at the age of 30 (Cf. Luke 3:23). It also discloses that He carried out his mission for three years. It was after the paschal events of His death, resurrection and ascension that the Holy Spirit, which He promised came down on the Apostles.

2. Variety of Gifts in the Church: Pentecost Sunday speaks to the heart of variety of gifts in the Church. Some have the gift of tongues while others have the gift of interpreting tongues. These gifts adorn the Church with men and women who are blessed with different talents which are meant for the service of God and humanity. The bible says, “What have you that has not been given you by the Lord and if it has been given you by the Lord, why brag about it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Having the capacity to put God’s gifts into use further demonstrates that there is variety of gifts in the Church.

3. Unity as an Indispensable Element in the Church: That the apostles were able to understand what others were saying in their native langue aptly describes unity in diversity. The tribes, tongues, peoples and nations (Revelations 7:9) that the bible speaks about reveals the various kinds of people God has decorated the world with. Today’s celebration reveals that unity is as an indispensable component of the Church.

4. Manifestation of the Spirit among Believers: Standing on the promises of Christ, believers are able to do much more than they can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), through the help of the one who strengthens them (Philippians 4:13). Christians have the leverage to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest in their lives.

5. Abiding Presence of the Spirit in the Sacraments: Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would abide with us forever (John 14:16). This promise is still valid because all the sacraments of the Church are administered by the power of the Holy Spirit. The definition of a sacrament as an outward sign of inward grace ordained by Christ attests to this fact.

Practical Lessons

1. Praying at all Times: We are urged to emulate the apostles by praying in season and out of season. It is only when we pray at all times that the presence of the Holy Spirit will always be with us.

2. Preaching the Gospel Publicly: When the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles, they were empowered to engage in public proclamation of the gospel. Based on the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), we are empowered to continue the work of evangelisation.

3. Public Leadership in the Christian community: After receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles were better prepared to be leaders in the early Christian Community. In like manner, the contemporary Church is charged to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to her on the rudiments of Christian leadership. 

4. Paralyzing Our Fears:  The Apostles who were once timid were emboldened to stand before secular authorities to preach the gospel not minding whose ox is gored. In the same vein, pastors of souls are challenged to embrace courageous witnessing by talking truth to power not minding the consequences. 

5. Putting Faith into Practice: We are challenged to take up Catholic Action which entails witnessing to the Gospel in a highly visible way. We can achieve this through showcasing spiritual gifts namely love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control to the world.

6. Concretizing our Confirmation commitments: With particular reference to the sacrament of confirmation (Acts 8:14-17; 9:19; 19:6 & Hebrews 6:2), confirmed Christians are once again challenged to live up to their confirmation commitments. It is not just enough to bear a confirmation name – that additional name means that as a soldier of Christ, you are ready for the battles of life which includes trials, temptations and tribulations. In the wake of various attacks on Christians in some parts of our country, Sri Lanka and Egypt, we invoke the Holy Spirit to empower us so as to endure to the end.