Plant two naturally good seeds in a potentially good soil. Give one of them adequate water and sunshine but deprive the other of these elements. The result, after some days, would be obvious the one that received sufficient water and sunshine would find itself enabled to sprout and bear fruits, whereas the other, though a good seed too, would perish in the soil. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon a person makes a big difference. Like water and sunshine, the Holy Spirit gives a person the ability to sprout and bear fruits.
To understand the account of the Pentecost event, as recorded in our First Reading, we need to look at Acts 1:8. In that text, Jesus is reported to have told his disciples, ''You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Now on Pentecost day, we read, ''And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance'' (Acts 2:4). In other words, the disciples received an ability to do what they could not do all by themselves, i.e. to witness.
The ability that the Holy Spirit gives for witnessing is echoed in the Gospel text where Jesus tells the disciples, ''As the Father has sent me, even so I send you, Receive the Holy Spirit'' (Jn. 20:21-22).
Paul, in the Second Reading, helps us to appreciate the fact that the Spirit that the early Christians received on Pentecost day is the same Spirit that is offered to all believers: ''We were baptised into one body in a single Spirit, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as free men, and we were all given the same Spirit to drink'' (1 Cor. 12:13). It means that we too can manifest the presence of the Holy Spirit in ways akin to that of the early Christian community. It is therefore scripturally and theologically inaccurate to think or say that some gifts and abilities that the Holy Spirit gives, as enumerated in Scripture, are not meant for our generation. On the contrary, Paul writes, ''To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good'' (1 Cor. 12:7).
As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, we each need to do some sober reflection and ask ourselves some few questions: Am I truly living a life in the Spirit? In what ways is the Holy Spirit manifesting His presence in my life? Have I allowed the Holy Spirit to make me an active agent of evangelization?
The Holy Spirit is not an idea. He is a real divine person. He desires to make a big difference in the life of each one of us. Would you give Him the chance?
PRAYER: Come Holy Spirit, we need you. Give us power and make us witnesses of the Kingdom. Amen
To understand the account of the Pentecost event, as recorded in our First Reading, we need to look at Acts 1:8. In that text, Jesus is reported to have told his disciples, ''You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Now on Pentecost day, we read, ''And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance'' (Acts 2:4). In other words, the disciples received an ability to do what they could not do all by themselves, i.e. to witness.
The ability that the Holy Spirit gives for witnessing is echoed in the Gospel text where Jesus tells the disciples, ''As the Father has sent me, even so I send you, Receive the Holy Spirit'' (Jn. 20:21-22).
Paul, in the Second Reading, helps us to appreciate the fact that the Spirit that the early Christians received on Pentecost day is the same Spirit that is offered to all believers: ''We were baptised into one body in a single Spirit, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as free men, and we were all given the same Spirit to drink'' (1 Cor. 12:13). It means that we too can manifest the presence of the Holy Spirit in ways akin to that of the early Christian community. It is therefore scripturally and theologically inaccurate to think or say that some gifts and abilities that the Holy Spirit gives, as enumerated in Scripture, are not meant for our generation. On the contrary, Paul writes, ''To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good'' (1 Cor. 12:7).
As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, we each need to do some sober reflection and ask ourselves some few questions: Am I truly living a life in the Spirit? In what ways is the Holy Spirit manifesting His presence in my life? Have I allowed the Holy Spirit to make me an active agent of evangelization?
The Holy Spirit is not an idea. He is a real divine person. He desires to make a big difference in the life of each one of us. Would you give Him the chance?
PRAYER: Come Holy Spirit, we need you. Give us power and make us witnesses of the Kingdom. Amen
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