Feast Days

THE PENTECOST

► Text of Sunday Reflection

“The Holy Spirit cannot be bottled or canned!”
by Sr Máire O’Byrne FMA

On Friday November 13, 2015, Helen Leiris was shot dead in Bataclan, during the Paris attacks. In the days that followed the words spoken by her husband, Antoin, on Facebook went viral. He refused to hate those who had killed his wife and pledged to bring up their 17 month old son as a happy child, without hate.

Why did Antoin’s words spark off such a reaction? Perhaps because the Holy Spirit is so clearly active in his words and attitude, a Spirit of love, peace and a gentleness that is strong enough to reject the temptation to respond to violence with violence.

He spoke in his native French but, like the disciples on Pentecost, everyone understood, because he was speaking the unifying language of the Spirit.

It is easy to forget about the Holy Spirit or limit the action of the Spirit to special occasions like Pentecost or Confirmation, or to special people like charismatics. Even the Scriptures have resort to figurative language when they speak of the Spirit: like a dove, like a mighty wind, like tongues of fire. Perhaps this is due to the fact that spirits cannot be seen and so are difficult to describe or even imagine. Yet much of what is truest and most important in life, like love and truth, is not visible to the eye.

However, the action of the Spirit can be clearly seen all around us by its gifts and fruits. All these gifts are given for the good, not only of the individual, but especially that of the community. Some are more or less extraordinary, given in response to particular needs of God’s people, but most are ordinary and seen in everyday life. When someone shows love for others, especially when it is not humanly easy, acts for peace, responds to violence with gentleness, is patient, kind, trustful etc. they are living by the Spirit and the Spirit is ever creative, always doing something new.

Each of today’s readings presents us with a different aspect of the action of the Spirit.

In the first reading, the coming of the Spirit transforms a group of frightened individuals into courageous missionaries, happy to suffer and even die if necessary for the name of Jesus. Their word becomes a unifying element, understood by peoples from different parts of the world. May the Spirit inspire us to speak the message of Jesus in a language that is understandable to the people of today’s world.

In the Gospel, John reminds us that the Spirit will remain with us always to teach us the truth of Jesus’ Word and to keep us in His love. May we remain always in that love.

In the second reading, Paul reminds us that we have not received a spirit of slavery but one of sonship that allows us to call God our Abba, Father. We are all God’s children and no one can be excluded. The Spirit cannot be bottled or canned, nor can the Holy Spirit be kept as the exclusive possession of any person or group. What was the religion of Antoin Leiris? Was he a church going person? I don’t know, and I doubt if that really mattered to the Holy Spirit, who is like the wind that blows where it will. All the Spirit asks is our openness and loving readiness for whatever God asks of us in this moment. Let us open our hearts today and pray: Come Holy Spirit!

► Readings, Reflections & Prayers

Scripture readings: Association for Catholic Priests
– www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie
Reflections and Prayers by Fr Jack Finnegan SDB

1st Reading – Acts 2:1-11

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.

Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”

Reflection

Today’s psalm is a celebration of God’s vibrant and creative presence in nature and the cosmos. They are the fruit of God’s astonishing wisdom and power. Taken in conjunction with Psalm 103, our psalm today also reminds us that the God of creation and the God of salvation are one. Creation and salvation are a marvellous unity. That is why our psalm teaches us about the diversity of God’s creation and teaches us to pray the Spirit to renew the face of the earth. We make this prayer because the Spirit is full of creative power, full of transforming and renewing power. The practical implications of that prayer have been ignored until very recently and the planet has borne the brunt of our greed. That is why we need to open our hearts to the Spirit. That is why we turn to God, our minds and hearts and wills wide open for blessing and new insight. We sing of God’s greatness. We rejoice in God’s glory. We exult in the Spirit who fills us with life. And in the Spirit we pray that the earth and the cosmos be renewed by the Spirit’s amazing gifts. How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all! Come, Holy Spirit! Let us be your first fruits! Teach us to care for the whole of creation! Teach us to repair the harm we have done and are doing still!

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit! Blow through our lives like a mighty wind! Fan into flame the love you bring us. Let us be astonished and amazed. Set our minds and hearts and wills on fire as you did Mary and the apostles! Like them, let us glow with love every minute of every day! Burn fear out of our hearts! Let wisdom and the courage of hope take its place! Lift us beyond our present anxieties and refusals! Give us new words to speak of your glory! Remind us that the kingdom of God is a kingdom of justice and peace, a kingdom of joy. Open our eyes to its awesome glory in Christ! Open the gates of his life-giving word to the whole world today. Set your people free to walk with him in peace! Amen and Amen.

Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34

Reflection

Today’s psalm is a celebration of God’s vibrant and creative presence in nature and the cosmos. They are the fruit of God’s astonishing wisdom and power. Taken in conjunction with Psalm 103, our psalm today also reminds us that the God of creation and the God of salvation are one. Creation and salvation are a marvellous unity. That is why our psalm teaches us about the diversity of God’s creation and teaches us to pray the Spirit to renew the face of the earth. We make this prayer because the Spirit is full of creative power, full of transforming and renewing power. The practical implications of that prayer have been ignored until very recently and the planet has borne the brunt of our greed. That is why we need to open our hearts to the Spirit. That is why we turn to God, our minds and hearts and wills wide open for blessing and new insight. We sing of God’s greatness. We rejoice in God’s glory. We exult in the Spirit who fills us with life. And in the Spirit we pray that the earth and the cosmos be renewed by the Spirit’s amazing gifts. How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all! Come, Holy Spirit! Let us be your first fruits! Teach us to care for the whole of creation! Teach us to repair the harm we have done and are doing still!

Prayer

LORD, Adonai, may the wind of the Spirit blow through the whole cosmos today! Send forth your Spirit! Renew your life within us today! Renew the face of the earth! How wonderful you are! How glorious your love! Remind us that creation and salvation are one in you! Remind us that with your Spirit we will not be shaken! With your Spirit we will come to know the deeper life you want us to share. With your Spirit we will come to know ever more fully the glory and strength of your awesome compassion. In the power of your Spirit may we become your likeness in the world, bearers of your light and love, builders of your peace, models of your oneness! Lord, renew the face of the earth today! Renew all your people! Renew the whole cosmos! Amen and Amen.

2nd Reading: Romans 8:8-17

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh- 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. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Reflection

The first gift of the Spirit is the faith to profess that Jesus is Lord, Jesus who died that we might live. Secondly, the gifts of the Spirit blossom in many different forms for the common good. Third, the gift of the Spirit is not to build individualism but the community of faith. We are one body through the power of the Spirit, the fruit of one Lord and one baptism and one enduring call to new life in the Spirit. The challenge is to grasp the freedom of the Spirit and to struggle with whatever in us and in the world would limit and hinder the free unfolding of God’s kingdom. In that struggle we cry out in the Spirit: Abba, Father!

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit! Take our songs of praise to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Wrap them in the depths of your love and give them angels’ wings! Holy Spirit, murmur deeply in our spirits, murmur beyond the power of words! Murmur the unimaginable love that is the heart of Trinity and touch us with its transforming power! Teach us to cry out, Abba, Father! Give us the courage to profess that Jesus is Lord! Let your gifts of prayer and action multiply in the faith community! Empower us to serve the common good! Remind us that creation and salvation are a dynamic unity! Remind us that we are your sons and daughters. Remind us to care for all living beings and the whole of creation. Make Christians everywhere one compassionate body in Christ and set our hearts on fire! Amen.

Gospel Reading: John 14:15-16,23-26

Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever….

Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.”

Reflection

It should come as no surprise that in the early Church Easter and Pentecost were the great times for baptism. John links the outpouring of the Spirit to Easter Day. Nevertheless he also reminds us that the Spirit always empowers the Church to serve divine mercy in the world, to baptise for liberation from all that diminishes and oppresses people, regardless of whether these are personal or systemic forces. More to the point, the Father sends the Spirit in response to Jesus’ prayer. To be touched by the Spirit, then, is to be touched by the vast love of Father and Son and touched by the transforming fires of the Spirit. Let us rejoice in that loving touch! Let us open our hearts to Trinity! Let us fan into flame the gifts of the Spirit! In the power of the Spirit let us live according to the mind of Christ. Let us repent our destructive impacts on the world. Let us repent the loss of so many living species.

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit! Touch us with the vast love of the Holy Trinity! Come, Fire divine! Melt the frozen! Warm the chill! Wrap us in the warm Radiance of your light! Come, Giver of gifts! Come, true Light of the heart! Come, loving Carer of the poor! Come, wise Comforter! Come, wonderful Counsellor! Come, sweet Guest of the soul! Come! Fill our inmost hearts with your grace! Bring back those of us who have gone astray! Cleanse each one of us. Water our dryness. Heal what is hurt within and around us! Nourish our souls with knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and courage! Refresh our living spirits with your creative power! Fill all people with the gift of salvation and give us a glimpse of eternal joy! Lord, Jesus, breathe your Spirit upon us again and again! Empower us to embrace and serve your divine compassion and call in the world! Let your glory shine in all we do and say! Amen.

► Lectio Divina

by Fr Juan José Bartolomé SDB

Introduction to Lectio Divine

This text is part of a long discourse but it is important to remember its immediate context. The traitor has been identified by Jesus and has left the supper room (Jn.13, 13, 30). This long “last testament” of Jesus is addressed to his intimate and faithful friends. Jesus entrusts them with a task. His time with them is drawing short. Obedience is necessary and they must demonstrate their love. Their love will be shown, not to him, but to one another. During the time of his absence, they will show their love by obeying. Obedience is requested of all who are sent by Jesus. It is the inescapable proof of the love that unites them. To obey is to love him. The Triune God is the reward of this obedience.  Pentecost is much more than the time of the absence of Jesus. It is the time to do his will. It is the time to allow God to dwell in those who show their love by obedience.

Read: understand what the text is saying, focussing on how it says it

These two short passages, put together to form one Gospel reading, have a thematic unity which revolves around three ideas: attention to the word or command; the love of Christ and of the Father; the promise of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus’ departure brings about new forms of presence. He is going away, but not completely. His command remains and he sends his Spirit. He speaks of his absence in a rather abrupt manner (Jn 14, 1-14), but he promises new forms of presence – that of the Counsellor or Paraclete (Jn. 14, 15-17, 25-26), his own presence (Jn. 14,18-21), and that of the Father and Son together (Jn. 14,22-24).

The test of our love for the absent Lord is obedience to his will, not a feeling of nostalgia at his departure. Jesus is no longer with them, but he leaves them his love. The community of disciples without Jesus is the place where his command is to be carried out: if you love me you will keep my commandments (Jn. 14, 15). To love is to desire and adhere to his command, to obey his will (Dt 7, 9). Here love and acceptance are given not to God but to Jesus. Before Jesus leaves them, his love is real. Obedience is to be the response of those who no longer have him present among them. However, he does not yet explain his commandment to the apostles. Later (Jn.14,15.21.24), he will make it clear that loving him means keeping his words, everything that he has revealed, not only, or even principally, the ethical requirement of love.

Jesus insists on obedient love, which is not limited to a particular era (Jn. 14, 23 If a man loves me … Jn. 14, 24, He who does not love me …).  He will return along with the Father to anyone who loves him by obeying his words. This revelation is possible wherever he finds obedience. Anyone who does not receive this revelation is marked as being disobedient. Faith must be characterized by action and observance. It is not just a purely subjective sentiment. Only the one who obeys will enjoy the presence of the Father and the Son (Jn. 14, 23).  Obedience to Christ is not only to him, but also to the Father, because his words are not his own, but the Father’s who sent him (Jn. 14, 24).

Before he finishes, Jesus repeats his promise: he will send the Counsellor. Sent by the Father, and now called the Holy Spirit, the Counsellor will have the mission to keep alive in the community the teaching and the memory of Jesus (Jn. 14, 26). The community will be the school of God (Is. 54, 13; Jn. 31,3-34) and the place where Jesus is remembered. The Counsellor has the same origin, and the same task – to teach the words of the Son which are in fact the Father’s words (Jn. 14, 10.24): the same revelation, but a new Teacher.

Meditate: apply what the text says to life

Jesus leaves his disciples, but he does not leave them disconsolate. He tells that that “another” defender will come. But he will not come now to defend the Son who is to give his life for them.  Jesus promises them the Holy Spirit who will continue his work, teaching them and reminding them of what he has taught. In this way we receive from Jesus himself the revelation in advance of the mystery of Pentecost, of its profound meaning. The physical disappearance of Jesus will not leave his disciples unemployed. They will have to obey his will. Nor will they be abandoned, because they will receive another Counsellor or Paraclete.

Basically Jesus wants to ensure that his disciples who remain alone will not feel abandoned and will not be idle. If they love me today, they will fulfil my commandment in the future. Proclaiming his word and making it true is the way to love him when he is absent.

The first task of the believer, and of the whole Church living in the age of the Spirit, is obedience. We will not have Jesus alongside us, but in his absence we will do his will.

We know what we have to do – obey his command. And we know why we have to do it – out of love. The obedience that Jesus asks of us is the concrete expression of the love he hopes for from us. He does not want a sentimental love, however sincere it might be, but a love expressed in deeds and in truth. An obedience that is born of love for our absent Lord, makes his absence bearable. The more meticulous we are in following him, the less painful the effort will be.

Jesus made this very clear in what he said.  The first condition (if you love me, you will keep my commandments) is reinforced by repetition (If a man loves me, he will keep my word … he who does not love me does not keep my words).

Pentecost calls for obedience, an obedience that is nourished in love of the one we must obey. This means that we must practise loving him whom we cannot see, because he has gone from us. We no longer own him because he is now absent. We show our love by wanting what he wants and by doing his will. Loving, while not enjoying the presence of the one we love, allows us to do his will.  Jesus himself acknowledges that this obedient love will not be easy for us: if you love me …

We have all we need to love him today and to listen to him and obey him in the future. The best way to prepare for when he is gone, is to love him while we have him near at hand. Pentecost is the time to prove the love we feel, and the guarantee of its authenticity is our obedience.

The reward for the obedience of the disciple who loves, is the Father of the one he loves. The disciple who lives in obedience to the Lord, will have him as intercessor with the Father. And the Father will grant him the permanent presence of the Spirit, who is the personal love of the Father, and the dwelling place of God.

Rarely has there been such a promise as that made to the one who loves and obeys the Spirit.  The Father and the Son will be companions of the obedient disciple. God will dwell in all those who live in obedience to the teaching of Jesus. St Augustine expresses this truth very beautifully:  “The Father, the Son and the Spirit come to us, when we go to them. They come with their help, when we obey them. They come to enlighten us, when we contemplate them. They come to receive us, when we welcome them. We see them not externally but internally. Their dwelling in us is not temporary but eternal.”

It follows then that the time of Pentecost is not a time of absence, but of a new and threefold presence. It is not a time for nostalgia, but a time of welcome. Another Defender, a Father who loves us, and the Son, will fill the life of the believer who obeys. God dwelling in the midst of the people who obey him is a classical biblical motif (Exod.25, 8; 29, 45; Lev.36,11; Ps.120,11; 123,3-14; Exod.37,26-27; Zech.2,14). Here Jesus promises much more than what was granted to Israel. The Christian believer becomes the dwelling-place of the Trinity, provided he loves Jesus and lives only to obey him. Pentecost is a time of obedience, but it is also a time to live in the joy of the Trinity. God becomes the guest of whoever does the will of the Saviour.

To give effect to his promise, Jesus assures us that what he has left us are not just his own words, but words that come from the Father who sent him. The authority of God is behind the personal promise of Jesus. His promises are nothing other than the revelation of God who speaks through his Son.

Being given the Spirit as another Defender, and receiving the love of the Father and the indwelling of God, are not mere illusions of one who believes.  They are the reward of one who obeys. Could we think of a better reward for an obedience that is, after all, our duty?

Like Jesus, the Spirit comes from the Father. The Spirit will be sent in Jesus’ name and will be his representative. He will help the disciples to understand and keep the memory of Jesus alive in the world. The message to be understood and remembered is always what Jesus said, the message of his Gospel. The work of the Spirit is not just a reconstruction of what was said, nor simply a repetition of what Jesus taught, but a re-presentation, through memory, and an effective instrument for the understanding of the love of Jesus. The community of those to whom the Spirit is given will have the task of teaching and remembering the absent Lord, Jesus of Nazareth, and in this way making his presence active and effective in the world.

Pentecost is not a time to live in ignorance or forgetfulness of Jesus, or a time to suffer in loneliness.  Precisely because Jesus has left us, we must not forget him or his teaching. In his place we have another Defender, the Spirit that Jesus promised the Father would send us. The Church is condemned to loneliness, only if it does not remember Jesus, or does not bring his teaching to the world.

If we forget Christ today, just because he is not present or because the world has rejected him, then we lose his Spirit. We cannot say we have the Spirit of Jesus if, on Pentecost day, we do not resolve to remember him and to keep his teaching alive.