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Father Michael's Thoughts this week
WEEKLY THOUGHTS PENTECOST SUNDAY MAY 28th 2023.
Dear Friends, welcome to the celebration of the Pentecost Sunday which marks 50 days after the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus for the Christians and the 50th day after the Passover of the Jews. The Jewish Pentecost was originally a post-harvest thanksgiving feast. Later the Jews included it in the remembrance of God’s covenants with Noah after the deluge and with Moses on Mt. Sinai.
After the Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary his mother. The Apostles were locked up in prayer as Jesus had instructed them. After receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, the frightened Apostles were transformed into fiery preachers and evangelizers as they had received the gift of tongues by a special anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life:
· As an Indwelling God, He makes us his living temples (1 Cor. 3:16)
· As a strengthening God, He strengthens us in our fight against temptations and in our mission of bearing witness to Christ by living transparent Christian lives.
· As Sanctifying God, He makes us holy through the Sacraments. Through Baptism, He makes us children of God and heirs of heaven. Through Confirmation, He makes us temples of God, warriors and defenders of the faith. Through Reconciliation, He enables us to be reconciled by pardoning our sins.
· Through the Holy Eucharist, He gives us Spiritual nourishment by transforming bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus.
· Through Ordination or priesthood and Matrimony, makes the church Holy.
· As a teaching and guiding God, He clarifies and constantly reminds us of the Christian teachings and guides the Magisterium.
· As a listening and talking God, He pours out on us His gifts, fruits and charisms thus enriching the Church. In Galatians 5: 22-23, Paul lists the fruits of the Holy Spirit as follows: “The Spirit brings love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self-control.” The gifts are meant to build the Body of Christ-the Church of which Jesus is the head.
We are all mandated to love and forgive as we have been loved and forgiven. We live in a world today which is judgmental and vengeful. Revenge and resentment has no place in our Christian life. Let us all yearn to embrace the language of peace, joy and reconciliation.
Have a great week!
