“…the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon humanity like a vast torrent of grace” (Pope Francis).
Today’s Gospel reading on Pentecost Sunday (Jn 20: 9–23) should inspire us to open our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to go out from our comfort zones and live our faith in the market places. Jesus’ words to his disciples apply to all of us: “Peace be with you…As the Father has sent me, even so I send you… Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:21–22).
We know that we can do nothing without God, but He has sent His Spirit of Truth, our Defender, our Comforter, to show us how to live our faith. We are God’s instruments. We are supposed to be the hands and feet of our living Lord; fired up by the Holy Spirit, which we received at Baptism and Confirmation, to play our part as the Spirit renews the face of the earth.
1 Corinthians 12:4–7 tells us, “there is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord…The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.” Can you imagine how we can transform our homes, communities, nation and the world if we truly embrace the fact that the parts of the body are many “but the body is one” (1 Cor 2: 20)?
This knowledge should propel us to unite to promote the common good; to build right relationships in our troubled communities; to act as good stewards of our environment. The state of play in T&T/the world shows that we need to work harder to build the pillars of peace: truth, justice, love, freedom and forgiveness.
Pope Francis’ words should spur us to action: “The world needs men and women who are not closed in on themselves, but filled with the Holy Spirit. Closing oneself off from the Holy Spirit means not only a lack of freedom; it is a sin. There are many ways one can close oneself off to the Holy Spirit: by selfishness for one’s own gain; by rigid legalism…by neglect of what Jesus taught; by living the Christian life not as service to others but in the pursuit of personal interests; and in so many other ways. The world needs the courage, hope, faith and perseverance of Christ’s followers…”
Our world needs healing. Are we up to the challenge? Three of my friends had taken their daughters to the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester at which a suicide bomber detonated a device that killed 22 people, including children, and injured another 59. While my friends were not injured, the world grieves with and prays for those who lost their loved ones and for those who are injured.
Pope Francis called it a “senseless act of violence”. Catholic Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archdiocese of Westminster, London, in expressing his condolences, prayed: “May God turn the hearts of all who commit evil to a true understanding of His desire and intention for humanity.”
Eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos from Lancashire was among the youths and adults killed. Today, June 4, the world observes the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. “The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.”(UN) According to the United Nations, “the statistics of child abuse include:
- More than two million children killed in conflict in the last two decades
- About ten million child refugees cared for by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
- In the Latin America and in the Caribbean region about 80,000 children die annually from violence that breaks out within the family.” (timeanddate.com)
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Right here in T&T, child abuse is rampant. Too many of our children are victims of aggression; too many suffer because of policies and practices that are not truly people-centred.
On this Pentecost Sunday, let us resolve to do better. Reflect on Pope Francis’ words: “The Holy Spirit impels us to open the doors and go forth to proclaim and bear witness to the good news of the Gospel, to communicate the joy of faith, the encounter with Christ. The Holy Spirit is the soul of mission.”
