Pentecost Sunday (Cycle A, Year II)
Community Word: The Holy Spirit empowers us to make disciples of all nations.
Theme: We are empowered by the Holy Spirit when we exercise our spiritual gifts.
Promise:“To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the same benefit.” (1Cor 12:7)
Reflection
Pentecost is considered as the birthday of the Church, and rightfully so. “The Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era…Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age.” (1076, Catechism of the Catholic Church)
This spiritual re-birth is at the heart of every Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) that is held at different times throughout the year by different BLD districts in the Philippines, North America and Hong Kong. It is one of the visible ways by which our community, Bukas Loob sa Diyos, is able to take an active part in the enormous task of infusing new life to the aging Catholic Church through a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the LSS graduates. This event is no different from the first Pentecost experienced by the apostles as they huddled together in fear and anxiety after the death of Jesus. Manifesting as strong wind and tongues of fire, Pentecost fulfills the promise of Jesus to teach the apostles everything and empower them: “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…” (Acts 2:2-4)
Indeed every LSS re-lives the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on that first Pentecost. Just as it equipped the apostles to witness to Jesus in the work of redemption, LSS graduates receive the same gifts during the Baptism of the Spirit, described in the 2nd Reading: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” (2 Cor 12: 4-6)
One wonders why only a handful end up putting to good use the gifts which are intended to be shared for the good of many and not meant to be hoarded. Pentecost Sunday serves to remind us, as members of a charismatic community, of our duty to propagate the Christian faith by actively exercising the gifts we received from the Holy Spirit during our baptism in the Spirit. Foremost among these are the seven spiritual gifts: the gift of Wisdom, the gift of Counsel, the gift of Fortitude, the gift of Knowledge, the gift of Piety, Fear and Reverence for the Lord.
In his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 12:7-11), Paul writes about the many other gifts we are tasked to share, namely, the gift of faith, healing, power of miracles, prophecy, recognizing spirits, tongues and the ability to interpret them. These gifts are freely given to anyone whose heart is open to receive them during the LSS. Everyone therefore has something to contribute in building up the body of Christ, of which we are all a part. By exercising even a few of these gifts, we would have a more vibrant church, throbbing with life and moved by the Holy Spirit. This is our theme for the week: We are empowered by the Holy Spirit when we exercise our spiritual gifts.
As stewards, if we allow our gifts to remain idle, how are we to accomplish our mission of building His Kingdom? Paul states, “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ,” (1 Cor 12:12). Each of us is given an important role to play in the Body of Christ. This is our promise for the week: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the same benefit,” (1Cor 12:7). Are we ready to exercise our gifts and be part of the Church revival to keep the Body of Christ alive in us? This is the mark of a true disciple.
Prayer: (for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit)
O Lord Jesus Christ, who, before ascending to heaven promised to send the Holy Spirit to finish your work among your apostles and disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of your grace and your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with you and overcome with courage all the obstacles to my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and in knowing him come to know myself and Your perfect plan for my life, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and finally, the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a holy reverence and dread anything that may be displeasing to You. Mark me, dear Lord with the sign of your true disciples, and animate me in all things with your Spirit. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1.What gifts did I receive from the Holy Spirit during my LSS?
2.What gifts am I actively using to benefit others and help build the Kingdom of God?
3.What gifts entrusted to me have remained idle and have not been put to good use as they are meant to be?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
June 8, 2014 (Sun) Acts 2:1-11/Ps 104:1,24,29-30,31,34/1Cor 12:3-7,12-13/Jn 20:19-23
June 9, 2014 (Mon) 1Kgs 17:1-6/Ps 121:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8/Mt 5:1-17
June 10, 2014 (Tues) 1Kgs 17:7,16/Ps 4:2-3,4-5,7-8/Mt 5:13-16
June 11, 2014 (Wed) Acts 11:21-26;13:1-3/Ps 98:1,2-3,3-4,5-6/Mt 10:7-33
June12, 2014 (Thur) 1Kgs 18:41-46/Ps 65:10,11,12-13/Mt 5:20-26
June 13, 2014 (Fri) 1Kgs 19:9,11-16/Ps 27:7-8,8-9,13-14/Mt 5:27-32
June 14, 2014 (Sat) 1Kgs 19:19-21/ps 16:1-2,5,7-8,9-10/Mt 5:33-37
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
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