Pentecost
Sunday – May 31, 2020
Readings:
Acts 2:1-11; Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1ab.29bc-30.31.34(R.30);
1 Cor.
12:3b-7.12-13 & Gospel John 20:19-23.
Theme:
Birthday of the Church: A Fitting Celebration!
Sunday Synopsis
The Greek
word Pentekoste which means fiftieth stands for a celebration which occurred 7
weeks after the Passover. It was primarily a feast of thanksgiving for harvest
but was later associated with the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. It
was on this day when all Jews at home and those in the diaspora came together
that the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles. In the second reading, St. Paul
underscores the importance of unity of the spirit when he said: “Jews and
Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” In the
gospel, Jesus challenges us to embrace the missionary enterprise through peace
and reconciliation!
Introduction
Beloved in Christ, today is Pentecost
Sunday – This day is crucial in the life of the Church because it marks the
birthday of the Catholic Church. 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. Thus, there was no fitting day for
the descent of the Holy Spirit than this. We shall reflect on the theme: “Birthday
of the Church: A Fitting Celebration!”
Background and Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Acts 2:1-11) recounts the miracle of
speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost when a sound came from heaven like
a mighty wind and filled where the apostles were. It tells how the spirit fell
like tongues of fire on the apostles who spoke and Medes, Elamites, residents
of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene and visitors from Rome (Jews and
proselytes), Cretans and Arabians could hear them talking in their own tongues
about the mighty works of God.
In the
second reading (1 Cor. 12:3b-7.12-13), St. Paul assures
that no one can say “Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” He goes ahead to
state that there are a variety of gifts but given by the same Lord. Paul noted
that just as one body has many parts, so also we though many are one in Christ.
He surmised that: “For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body – Jews
and Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
The gospel reading (John 20:19-23) reveals how Jesus
appeared to the timid apostles with the message: “Peace be with you.” We are told he showed them his hands and his side and they were
glad to see him. He then gave them the Great Commission: “As the Father has
sent me, even so I send you.” He breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy
Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the
sins of any, they are retained.”
Pastoral Lessons
1. Speak in Tongues of Love: Today, the first reading reminds us to eschew any speaking in
tongues that is bereft of concrete charity to our brothers and sisters amidst
the current health crisis across the world.
2. Celebrate Diversity: Pentecost celebration assures that though many we may be, we
are united in diversity which further calls us to live out the Church’s
catholicity (universality) to the full.
3. Celebrate the Church: Since Pentecost makes the formal formation or birthday of the
Church, Catholics should realise that their church predates the Reformation of 31
October 1517 to 33AD when on Pentecost Sunday, the Church (Catholic) (Acts
2:1-4, 38-42) began – We are charged to proudly celebrate the Church’s
birthday!
2. Celebrate the Variety of Gifts: The message of Pentecost reminds us of the variety of gifts
in the Church like the gift of speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues
– Since the Lord adorns His Church with talented men and women, we are called
to use our gifts and talents for the service of God and humanity.
3. Seek the Unity of the Spirit: Today, our first (Acts 2:1-11) and second readings (1 Cor. 12:3b-7.12-13)
invite us as a people from different tribes, tongues,
peoples and nations (Revelations 7:9) to embrace the unity of the Spirit by
destroying the walls of racism, nepotism/tribalism, gender bias and
discrimination of all forms - The United Nations, Presidents of nations and
stakeholders across the globe should push the frontiers of establishing the New
World Order of love and unity exemplified by Christ.
4. Be Open to the Spirit: We are encouraged to be open to the Holy Spirit through prayer,
mortification, bible study, spiritual silence and reflection so that his
transforming power can manifest itself in our lifetime.
5. Embrace the Sacraments: Based on Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would
abide with us forever (John 14:16), we are encouraged to patronise the sacraments
which are administered by the power of the Holy Spirit to help us live the life
of Christ.
6. Live Your
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 by being
soldiers of Christ who are ready for the battles of life such as trials,
temptations and tribulations.
7. Keep the Sabbath Holy: The message of the gospel (John 20:19-23) that
Christ appeared to the disciples on the First Day of the Week further gives
credence to the superiority of Sunday (first of the week) over Saturday
(Sabbath) as day of worship – both the Ten Commandments and one of the Sixth
Laws of the Church reminds us that it is a mortal sin to miss Sunday Mass
without genuine reason.
8. Be Peace Makers: In a society that is often
combustible along religious, ethnic and political fault-lines, Jesus’ “Peace be
with you” is an imperative for peace in Nigeria and beyond.
9. Seek Reconciliation: Once again Jesus vindicates the Catholic Church about questions
surrounding the power to forgive sins when he said: “Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of
any, they are retained” – let us, therefore, seek reconciliation with one
another and take advantage of the sacrament of penance for the forgiveness of
our sins.
Summary Lines
1. The first reading (Acts 2:1-11) recounts the miracle of
speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost.
2. In the second reading (1 Cor. 12:3b-7.12-13), St. Paul assures that no one can say “Jesus
is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
3. He goes ahead to state that there are a
variety of gifts but given by the same Lord.
4. The gospel reading (John 20:19-23) reveals how Jesus
appeared to the timid apostles with the message: “Peace be with you.”
5. We are told he showed them his hands and
his side and they were glad to see him.
Conclusion
Once again, we are charged to celebrate our
Mother, the Catholic Church as one of the oldest human institutions in the
world that is still standing for over 2019 years. As the Easter season ends
today, may the ordinary time of the year usher in the blessings of a new
farming season which coincides with the green liturgical colour. May the
blessings of Pentecost Sunday renew the face of the earth and energise us to
witness to the faith come what may. Standing on the promises of Christ, may
the Holy Spirit who is able to do much than we can ask or imagine (Cf. Ephesians
3:20 & Philippians 4:13) grant us peace and reconciliation in Nigeria and the
entire world. Happy celebration!
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