First reading Acts 2:1-11
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.
Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’
Responsorial Psalm 103(104):1,24,29-31,34
Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.
or
Alleluia!
Bless the Lord, my soul!
Lord God, how great you are,
How many are your works, O Lord!
The earth is full of your riches.
You take back your spirit, they die,
returning to the dust from which they came.
You send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord last for ever!
May the Lord rejoice in his works!
May my thoughts be pleasing to him.
I find my joy in the Lord.
Second reading Romans 8:8-17
Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God
People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. Though your body may be dead it is because of sin, but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life itself because you have been justified; and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
So then, my brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.
Gospel John 14:15-16,23-26
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If you love me you will keep my commandments.
I shall ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate
to be with you for ever.
‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own:
it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you while 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 I have said to you.
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Holy Spirit, the Paraclete
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Pentecost. What does it mean to
have the Holy Spirit in our lives? In today’s gospel, Jesus told His
disciples that He would send the Paraclete or the Advocate, the Helper,
the Comforter to be with them forever. Jesus knew that He would not be
with His disciples for long as He would soon face His death. He wanted
them to have the assurance that they would not have to be afraid
because the presence of the Holy Spirit would be with them in their time
of difficulties.
have the Holy Spirit in our lives? In today’s gospel, Jesus told His
disciples that He would send the Paraclete or the Advocate, the Helper,
the Comforter to be with them forever. Jesus knew that He would not be
with His disciples for long as He would soon face His death. He wanted
them to have the assurance that they would not have to be afraid
because the presence of the Holy Spirit would be with them in their time
of difficulties.
Now, more than ever, we need the presence of the Holy Spirit to be with
us as we navigate through the uncertain and challenging times we are
living. As our Paraclete, He stands with us and dwells within us in. He is
in us to help us in times of our need, strengthen our faith and empower
us to follow Jesus faithfully each day. Today, let us be open to come to
know the Holy Spirit and recognise His ways of working in us and with
us. Come, Holy Spirit, come!
us as we navigate through the uncertain and challenging times we are
living. As our Paraclete, He stands with us and dwells within us in. He is
in us to help us in times of our need, strengthen our faith and empower
us to follow Jesus faithfully each day. Today, let us be open to come to
know the Holy Spirit and recognise His ways of working in us and with
us. Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Question for reflection:
Have I experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life?
Have I experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
