Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Acts 2:1-11
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
“Be faithful to the Spirit, to proclaim Jesus with our lives, through our witness and our words“ (Pope Francis )
Today, as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, which is sometimes called “the birthday of our Church”, let us thank God for His gift of the Holy Spirit. As we seek to deepen our Faith during the Year of Faith, let us reflect on the many ways in which the gifts of the Holy Spirit can assist us as we strive to fulfil our vocation to live holy, virtuous lives as Christians.
Gospel John 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Gospel: Jn 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Today, Pentecost Sunday is a good time for us to reflect on whether or not we are opening our hearts and minds to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us to renew the face of the earth.
We are the Body of Christ in the world. This fact forms a key aspect of our Catholic Culture and Identity. My experience at the recent Congress in Rome (May 16-18) on Justice and Globalisation, made me even more determined to continue raising my awareness and that of the faithful of what it means to be the Body of Christ in the world; what it means to be a Catholic in T&T.