Pentecost SundayActs 2:1-11 Romans 8:8-17 John 14:15-16, 23-26 (Alternative readings would be Acts 2:1-11. 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13. Jn 20:19-23) The Gopel this weekend is this: John 14:15-16, 23-26 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always… 23 "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. 25 "I have told you this while I am with you. 26 The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. The first reading is this: Acts 2:1-11 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. 3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying inJerusalem. 6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, 11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God." The second reading is this: Romans 8:8-17 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. 12 Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" 16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. MEDITATION: Pentecost Sunday celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit 50 days (a pentany of days) after Easter Sunday and that's when the Church gets born. The Jews had a celebration 50 days after Passover, and that's why the group is gathered at the beginning of the first reading. Jesus himself has 'ascended' to heaven, but that wasn't in order to leave his friends, but in order to let the Spirit finish what Jesus had begun. In case people should think that the Spirit isn't important compared to Jesus, Jesus himself says this: "It is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." (Jn 16:5-7). The Incarnation enabled God to be physically present to us in a certain place, at a certain time, but God's presence has no ending and is everywhere. While He's not present before our eyes now, He's present within us!Tongues of fire represent the presence of God as on Mount Sinai in Ex 19:18 and also at Pentecost in Acts 2:3. That doesn't have a physical explanation. And it doesn't require one. It's the Spirit of God. Love doesn't get explained and God is Love! The many languages being spoken in the Acts of the Apostles today is a sign of how God wants the Good News to reach every corner of the Earth - and every corner of our own lives. Speaking in tongues also represents a form of ecstatic prayer in praise of God. The Christian Church is born in the first reading today, despite the people being from different places of different languages. In other words, the problem of Babel in the Old Testament is resolved by Pentecost in the New. It symbolizes that the terrible pride of man has a solution! Today we could actually sing 'happy birthday' to our Church! The Church throughout history has somehow managed to overcome many obstacles, and that's the fruit of this tremendous Spirit. The adjective 'ecclesiastic' comes from 'ecclesia' which means 'congregation' or 'gathering'. While the Jews of Israel had managed to confine God's Word to their own small population (you were either Jew or gentile), God opens up to everyone. That's why Pentecost has Jews from many different places all understanding each other's languages. I want to be 'Catholic' which means 'universal'. So if strangers from 'Timbuctoo' come my way, then I want to love them as brothers and sisters. And what about the people from down your street or from another part of town with whom you're not very friendly? Let's allow the Spirit to bind us! Regarding the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 again: It says there that mankind got so proud that they started building up and up thinking that they wouldn't need God to reach Heaven. The building failed and from then on the people started speaking different languages! That's only an image, but it reflects what's still going on in our 'advanced' world of towers and technology. It reflects the danger of thinking that we don't really need God and that we don't need to be united in Him. The tower wasn't built, and they all started to speak different languages, and mankind was no-longer a united family! Further on, the Old Testament has this: 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."' (Zech 8:23).Pentecost initiates the cure of man's 'Babbling'! We are Church and we are united. This reminds me of the Sunday when I celebrated mass with a priest from Germany, a doctor from America, Spaniards and Mexicans. I had also been chatting with fellow missionaries from Japan, the Philippines and Moscow! As in the Gospel of the second Sunday of Easter (Jn 20:19-31), Jesus appears through closed doors to the lads, and God keeps repeating that in the form of the Spirit. The Church has made its way through many closed doors since - even the closed doors of our cold hearts and proud minds. It's clear to me, though, that the faith isn't something that I read in a catechism, but it's a gift that penetrated my hard head as I contemplated the Bible that the Church has given us, and as I contemplated the Cross in our Churches - and the many persecutions of Christ that have tried to block the door down through history. The Church is actually the Mystical Body of Christ. He's alive! He's got injuries, because He's wanted all of us humans to be part of that Body. As we renew our appreciation for the Gift today, we can be renewing our willingness to help heal. The Church actually uses the term 'pneumatology' to describe the Holy Spirit. Think of how the wind blows a sailing ship and how a pneumatic drill works. They're images used to describe how God can help us travel across the 'sea of live' and have the power to break through the 'wall of sin'! Jesus actually uses the image of wind with Nicodemus (Jn 3) to describe how we should be humbly open to the way the faith describes the destiny of our lives: "When the wind blows you can feel it but you may not know from where it comes or to where it's going!". The Spirit seems to be the motor of 'missionary' life. When Jesus went to begin preaching in the synagogue, it says he was moved by the Holy Spirit and He began by saying "The Spirit of the Lord is on me - He sent me to heal broken hearts, give good news to the poor etc (Lk 4:16+). It's relevant that the Gospel of John says that on the Cross Jesus lowered his head and gave up his Spirit (Jn 19:30). That may seem to some like a fancy way of saying that he breathed his last and died, but the verb used for 'giving up' was used by the ancient Greeks for an action like presenting a gift. In other words it's not a reference to the end of the Good News (Gospel), but to the beginning! It’s referring to the fact that the Life and Love of God was in the process of being given to mankind. From there a huge process was begun! It's referring to his physical death but much more - He opened the door for us all to receive the Holy Spirit. It says that when a lance was cast in his side to ensure that he was dead, then blood and water flowed out. That actually represents the Holy Spirit and it's relevant that in every mass the priest mixes drops of water with the wine. That also symbolises our simple humanity mixed with God's glorious divinity in the incarnation. The priest then prays that the Holy Spirit come over the hosts and the chalice and thereby the consecration proceeds so they become the body and blood of Christ for us to comulgate. But as we take communion, we're really saying "I love you, Father, Jesus and Spirit". Our God is Trinity, and all three are lovely. If you love your Dad on earth (your 'Abba'), do you love his thorax distinctly from his abdomen or limbs? Do you love his right arm more than his heart? And do you love Our Father and Jesus while ignoring the Spirit? And what would you say if the Spirit humbly asks if you'll let Him dwell in you? As St Paul writes: 'Don't you realize you are temples of the Holy Spirit? You've been well bought' (1 Cor 6:19). St Paul lived through the years 66-70, when the situation of Jerusalem went through a lot of turmoil, so one would expect someone like Paul to tighten up and close doors as a conservative. We should all be faithful in conserving our faith, but Paul avoided forming a religion of static theology and ethics, because he realised that mankind should always be open to the Holy Spirit bringing novelties. As the priest at mass holds his hands over the bread and wine and prays to God to send his Spirit to 'consecrate' them (make them sacred), he's also praying over the people before him in the congregation. We ask for the Spirit to touch all our hearts so we can all become a 'consecrated' family. Thanks! Go raibh maith agat! Gracias! Merci! Danka! Obrigado! ……... Dara. En ESPAÑOL: Domingo de Pentecostés: Hchos 2:1-11. Rom 8:8-17. Jn 14:15-16, 23-26. (Lecturas alternativas son Hchos 2:1-11. 1ºCor 12:3-7, 12-13. Jn 20:19-23) El Domingo de Pentecostés es celebración de la venida del Espíritu Santo 50 días (un pentano de días) después de la Pascua y es cuando nació la Iglesia. - Dome el espiritu indómito (let the untamable wind be Tamed). Los Judíos tienen una celebración 50 días después de su Pascua, y por eso el grupo está reunido al principio de la primera lectura. Jesús mismo ha ascendido al Cielo, pero esto no era para alejarse de sus amigos, sino para dejar al Espíritu acabar lo que Él mismo había empezado. Las lenguas de fuego simbolizan la presencia de Dios como en Exodo 19:18 y también en Pentecostés Hchos 2:3. Por si acaso algunos piensan que el Espíritu no es importante comparado con Jesús, Jesús mismo dice: “Es mejor para vosotros que yo me vaya. Porque si no me voy, el Abogado no vendrá a vosotros” (Jn 16:5-7). La Encarnación hizo posible que estuviera Dios con nosotros en la carne en un cierto lugar durante un cierto tiempo, pero la presencia de Dios no tiene fin y está por todas partes. ¡Ahora que no está presente ante nuestros ojos, está dentro de nosotros! Esto no tiene explicación física. Y no la requiere. Es el Espíritu de Dios. ¡El amor no se explica y Dios es Amor! Los muchas idiomas de la gente en los Hechos de los Apóstoles hoy es signo de que Dios quiere que La Buena Nueva llegue a cada rincón de la tierra – y a cada rincón de nuestras propias vidas. Hablar en ‘lenguas’ también representa una forma extática de alabar a Dios. La Iglesia Cristiana nace en la primera lectúra de hoy. Nace a pesar de ser la gente de distintos lugares de distintos idiomas. Es decir, los problemas de Babel en el Antiguo Testamento se resuelven por el Pentecostés en el Nuevo. ¡Simboliza que el terrible orgullo de la humanidad tiene solución! De hecho, ¡podríamos hoy cantar 'cumpleaños feliz' a la Iglesia! Ella, durante los siglos, ha logrado superar muchos obstáculos de distintas formas, y esto es fruto de este Espíritu tremendo. El nombre 'Iglesia' simplemente significa 'congregación' o 'con junto'. Los Judíos de Israel habían restringido la Palabra de Dios a su pequeño pueblo. Uno era o Judío o gentil. Entonces Dios abre la puerta para todos. Por esto, Pentecostés tiene a Judíos de lugares e idiomas distintos, entendiéndose los unos con los otros. Quiero ser 'Católico', que significa 'universal'. Entonces si pasan extranjeros de la China por mi rincón, quiero amarles como hermanos y hermanas. Y ¿la gente del final de tu calle o de las otras partes de tu pais con la que no eres muy amistoso? ¡Dejemos que el Espíritu nos reúna! Esto me recuerda lo de la torre de Babel en Génesis 11. Dice que la gente se enorgulleció tanto, que empezó a construir arriba y arriba pensando que no iban a necesitar a Dios para llegar al Cielo. No lograron construir la torre y ¡desde entonces la gente empezó a hablar en distintos idiomas! Ya existía división. Es solamente una imagen pero refleja lo que sigue pasando en nuestro mundo 'avanzado' de torres y tecnología. Refleja lo peligroso que es pensar que no necesitamos a Dios y que no hace falta estar todos unidos en Él. No lograron construir la torre y empezaron a hablar en distintos idiomas, y la humanidad dejó de ser una familia unida. Más adelante dice el Antiguo Testamento esto: 'Dice Dios: en aquellos días diez hombres de cada nación, hablando distintos idiomas, cogerán las manos de los Judíos y les pedirán "Dejadnos seguiros, porque hemos oído que Dios está con vosotros.” (Zac 8:23). ¡Pentecostés pone en marcha la curación del 'Bababababel' de la humanidad! Somos Iglesia y estamos unidos. Hoy mismo yo, Irlandés, he celebrado la eucaristía con un sacerdote de Alemania, un médico de los Estados Unidos, españoles, mexicanos y africanos. ¡He hablado hace poco con misioneros y misioneras de Japón, las Filipinas y de Moscú! Como hemos visto en el Evangelio del segundo Domingo de Pascua (Jn 20:19-31), Jesús entra por la puerta cerrada para unirse a los 'chavales', y Dios sigue repitiendo esto a través del Espíritu. La Iglesia ha penetrado muchas puertas cerradas durante la historia – aún las puertas de nuestros corazones fríos y de nuestras mentes orgullosas. Pero se me hace claro que la fe es más que una cosa leída en el catecismo. Es un don que penetró mi cabeza dura al meditar la Palabra de Dios que la Iglesia nos ha dado, y al contemplar la Cruz en nuestras iglesias – y al ver las muchas persecuciones que han intentado bloquear la puerta ante Cristo durante los siglos. La Iglesia de hecho es el Cuerpo Místico de Cristo. ¡Está vivo! Ha aguantado mucho, porque ha querido que participe cada ser humano en este Cuerpo. Al renovar nuestra apreciación del Don hoy, podemos estar renovando nuestra disposición a ayudarle en la curación. La Iglesia usa la palabra 'Neumatología' para hablar del Espíritu Santo. Piensa en una barca de vela y en como funciona un taladro neumático. Son imágenes que describen como Dios nos ayuda a cruzar 'el mar de la vida' ¡y a romper 'el muro del pecado'! De hecho, Jesús usa la imagen del viento al hablar con Nicodémo (Jn 3) y de como deberíamos abrirnos a la fe para enterarnos de nuestro destino: “Cuando sopla el viento lo sientes, pero no sabes ni de donde viene ni a donde va!”. El Espíritu es como el motor de 'la vida misionera'. Cuando Jesús habló en la sinagoga al comienzo de su ministerio de la Palabra, dice: “El Espíritu de Dios está sobre mi. Me ha enviado a sanar a los corazones rotos, dar la buena nueva a los pobres etc. (Lc 4:16+). Es relevante que el Evangélio de Juan diga que Jesús en la Cruz inclinó la cabeza y entregó su Espíritu (Jn 19:30). Puede parecer a algunos como una forma de decir que respiró por última vez y murió, pero el verbo 'entregar' significa dar un regalo. Es decir que no era como un fin de la Buena Nueva (Evangelio), ¡sino como su comienzo! El don de la Vida y del Amor de Dios se puso en marcha. ¡Desde allí empezó un proceso muy largo! Está hablando de algo más que de una muerte física. Está hablando de la apertura de la puerta para que recibamos el Espíritu Santo. Dice que cuando le atravesaron el pecho para asegurar que estaba muerto, salió sangre y agua. Simboliza el don del Espíritu, y es relevante que en la misa el sacerdote ponga gotas de agua en el vino. Simboliza también la mezcla de nuestra humanidad sencilla con la sabrosa Divinidad. Así era la Encarnación. Después el sacerdote pide en oración que el Espíritu Santo venga sobre las ostias y el vino para que se consagren y lleguen a ser el Cuerpo y la Sangre de Cristo que comulgaremos. Y al comulgar podemos estar diciendo “Os amo, Padre, Jesús y Espíritu”. Nuestro Dios es Trinidad, y cada uno es buenísimo. Si amas a tu padre humano, ¿amas a su brazo izquierdo mas que al derecho? Y ¿amas a nuestro Padre (Abba-Papá) y a Jesús mientras pasas del Espíritu? Y ¿qué dirías si el Espíritu te pide humildemente morar en ti? Como escribe San Pablo: '¿Os dais cuenta de que sois templos del Espíritu Santo? Habéis sido bien comprados' (1°Cor 6:19). Pablo vivió durante los años 66-70, cuando Jerusalén estaba pasando mucha turbulencia, y sería comprensible si se hubiera puesto a la defensa como conservador. Es verdad que nos conviene a todos conservar nuestra fe fielmente, pero Pablo evitó la formación de una religión de teología y ética estática, porque quería estar abierto al Espíritu Santo trayendo novedades. El sacerdote en la misa pone sus manos sobre el pan y el vino pidiendo a Dios enviar su Espíritu para 'consagrarles' (hacerles sagrados), y a la vez está pidiendo lo mismo también para la asamblea! Pedimos que el Espíritu toque cada corazón para que lleguemos a ser una familia 'consagrada'. ¡Gracias! Thanks! Go raibh maith agat! Merci! Danka! Obrigado!
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