PENTECOST
SUNDAY
Mass during the Day
Lectionary: 63
Lectionary: 63
When the time for Pentecost was
fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
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
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
they were all in one place together.
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
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
Now there were devout Jews from
every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”
R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your
Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O Lord!
the earth is full of your creatures;
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O Lord!
the earth is full of your creatures;
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Brothers and sisters:
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
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.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
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.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
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.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Sequence
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Alleluia.
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Alleluia.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
On the evening of that first day
of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Meditation: "They were
all filled with the Holy Spirit!"
Do
you know and experience in your own life the gift and power of the Holy Spirit? After
his death and resurrection Jesus promised to give his disciples the gift of the
Holy Spirit. He said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit! (John
20:22) Jesus knew that his disciples would need the power of the Holy
Spirit to carry out the mission entrusted to them. The gift of the Holy Spirit
was conditional upon the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father.
That is why Jesus instructed the apostles to wait in Jerusalem until
you are clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Why did they
need power from on high? The Gospels tell us that Jesus was filled
with the Holy Spirit when he was baptized at the Jordan River:
"And
John bore witness, 'I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it
remained on him... this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit'" (John
1:32,33; Mark 1:8; Matthew 3:11).
"And
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and
was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness... and
Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee"
(Luke 4:1,14).
Just
as Jesus was anointed with the Spirit at the beginning of his ministry, so the
disciples needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit to carry out the mission
entrusted to them by Jesus. The Holy Spirit is given to all who are baptized
into Jesus Christ to enable us to live a new way of life - a life of love,
peace, joy, and righteousness (Romans 14:17). The Holy Spirit fills our hearts
with the love of God (Romans 5:7), and he gives us the strength and courage we
need in order to live as faith-filled disciples of the Lord Jesus. The Spirit
helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26), and enables us to grow in spiritual
freedom - freedom from doubt, fear, and from slavery to our unruly desires (2
Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:21). The Spirit instructs us in the ways of God, and
guides us in living according to God's will. The Spirit is the source and giver
of all holiness. Isaiah foretold the seven-fold gifts that the Spirit would
give: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of
the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).
The
gift of Pentecost - the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the spiritual gifts
and blessings of God - are made possible through the death, resurrection, and
ascension of the Lord Jesus. After his resurrection Jesus "breathed"
on his disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit. Just as God breathed life into
Adam, so the gift of the Holy Spirit is an impartation of "new
life" for his people. With the gift of the Holy Spirit a new creation
begins. God recreates us for his glory. Jesus' gift of peace to his disciples
was more than an absence of trouble. His peace included the forgiveness of sins
and the fullness of everything good. Do you want power to live a faith-filled
life as a disciple of Jesus? Ask the Father to fill you with the power of his
Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13).
Basil
the Great (329-379 AD), an early church father, explains the role of the Holy
Spirit in our lives:
"The
Spirit restores paradise to us and the way to heaven and adoption as children
of God; he instills confidence that we may call God truly Father and grants us
the grace of Christ to be children of the light and to enjoy eternal glory. In
a word, he bestows the fullness of blessings in this world and the next; for we
may contemplate now in the mirror of faith the promised things we shall someday
enjoy. If this is the foretaste, what must the reality be? If these are
the first fruits, what must be the harvest?" (From the treatise by Basil
on The Holy Spirit)
The
Lord Jesus offers each one of us the gift and power of his Holy Spirit. He
wants to make our faith strong, give us hope that endures, and a love that
never grows cold. He never refuses to give his Spirit to those who ask with
expectant faith. Jesus instructed his disciples to ask confidently for the gift
of the Spirit: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to
those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13). Do you thirst for God and for the
abundant life he offers through the gift of his Spirit?
"Lord
Jesus, I thank you for the gift of Pentecost and for the new life you offer in
the Holy Spirit. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart ablaze with the
fire of your love that I may serve you in joy and freedom."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost, by
Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"To
the Hebrew people, now freed from Egypt, the law was given on Mount Sinai fifty
days after the immolation of the paschal lamb. Similarly, after the passion of Christ
in which the true Lamb of God was killed, just fifty days after his
resurrection, the Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles and the whole group of
believers. Thus the earnest Christian may easily perceive that the beginnings
of the Old Covenant were at the service of the beginnings of the gospel and
that the same Spirit who instituted the first established the Second
Covenant." (excerpt from Sermon 75.1)
Pentecost Sunday – Cycle A
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
Introduction
Pentecost is an Israelite-Jewish festival. In Exodus 23:14-17 it is called simply the harvest festival, the feast of first-fruits of the grain harvest. In Exodus 34:22 it is called the feast of weeks, the first-fruits of the grain harvest. In Leviticus 23:15-21 the feast is reckoned by counting seven weeks from the beginning of the grain harvest; it is a day of Sabbatical observance. In Numbers 28:26-31 it is called the feast of weeks, the day of first-fruits. In Deuteronomy 16:9-12 it is the feast of weeks, which occurs seven weeks after the beginning of the grain harvest. It is one of the three major festivals in all the older lists of feasts.
It is probable that it was later in origin than Passover and did not take form until the Israelites had become a primarily agricultural community in Canaan. The time of the festival in its original celebration must have been indefinite, since the beginning of the grain harvest can’t be put at a certain day in the calendar. The beginning of the grain harvest corresponds with the feast of Matzoth (unleavened bread). When Passover and Matzoth were combined and set on the 14th of Nisan, the festival of weeks received a regular date in the calendar seven weeks (50 days) after Passover.
As a major feast, all Jewish males over the age of 12 were expected to try to celebrate it in Jerusalem.
1st Reading - Acts 2:1-11
The setting is 50 days after the first Easter, 10 days since Christ has ascended and left the disciples with responsibility for administering His Church. Before He ascended He had told them “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). So, after the ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and the Upper Room. While there, the eleven selected by lot Matthias to take Judas’ place, showing that the office of Bishop is to be a perpetual office [as Acts 1:20 (KJV) says, quoting Psalm 109:8, “and his bishopric let another take”].
2:1 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.
120 people (Acts 1:15) in the same house? Must be a big place. Remember, there was no indoor plumbing in those days.
2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.
There is a phonetic relationship in the Greek between “pnue” (wind) and “pneuma” (spirit). In Hebrew the word “ruah” is the same for “wind, breath, spirit”.
3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
Compare with Isaiah 66:15-20. With storm wind and fire the heavenly origin of the Spirit is expressed, and with its division, its destination in all members of the assembly.
4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
The tongues of fire yield foreign tongues.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
A startling change from the confines of the house to the surrounding area. The Jews represent the ingathering of Israel from their dispersion among all the nations. Recall this is one of the feasts where one ventured to Jerusalem.
6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
The miracle is not in the hearing; the Spirit is in the speakers who speak in these foreign tongues. The root of the word translated as “confused” is the same as the word used in the Septuagint to describe the effect of the tower of Babel. The effect is reversed here.
7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, AAre not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Note the change in attitude of the crowd; from confused, to astounded, to amazed.
8 Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near
Cyrene,
A more or less geographical sweep from east to west. Gives the impression of universality.
as well as travelers from Rome,
Breaking with the geographical sweep, Luke moves to the center of the Roman empire; perhaps to prepare the way for Peter and Paul to settle there.
11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
As a conclusion to the list, western-most and eastern-most
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”
This is what the disciples “expressed themselves” and “made bold proclamation”.
Thus was the Church born. In one fell swoop, the disciples are transformed from timid persons holed up in a room to proud proclaimers of the marvels which God has accomplished.
2nd Reading -1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
This reading should sound familiar to us as we heard the first half of it the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time and the remainder of it the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle C). Paul is advising the Corinthians about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how these gifts are to be used to promote the common good.
3b [N]o one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.
The Corinthians had inquired as to which gift of the Holy Spirit was greater than another and had probably stopped living the Christian life as they became concerned about their own image and status. Paul undermines any spiritual elitism by reminding them that they had all made this baptismal confession (Romans 10:9).
“If no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Spirit, what can we say about those who do name His name but do not have the Spirit? Here we have to understand that Paul was not talking about catechumens who had not yet been baptized but about believers and unbelievers.” [Saint John Chrysostom (A.D. 392), Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 29,3]
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 5 there are different forms of service but the same Lord; 6 there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
The three-fold comparison of “different” – “same” contrasts different actions with the same common origin to emphasize that all, no matter how great or small they are perceived to be, have the same origin and therefore the same value.
7 To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.
These gifts are not for us to hold but for us to share. If we do not share the gifts, then the common good suffers.
“Each person receives a gift to that, governing his life by divine constraints, he may be useful both to himself and to others while presenting an example of good behavior.” [The Ambrosiaster (between A.D. 366 - 384), Commentaries on Thirteen Pauline Epistles]
12 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.
Paul continues this comparison by pointing out that the human body needs different parts to perform different functions; all of which benefit the whole. Since the Church is the Body of Christ, it too is formed of many different members who are to work together for the benefit of the whole. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
The diversity of the Church is rooted in its unity. The Spirit is within the Church and we are called to share a common existence in Christ.
Gospel - John 20:19-23
This reading should also sound familiar as we heard it last on the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Cycle B). What we hear about is Jesus’ first appearance to the apostles.
19 On the evening of that first day of the week,
The first Easter Sunday. All Jesus’ appearances after Easter which are dated (time coded) are on a Sunday.
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst
Through locked doors. The disciples had barricaded themselves in the Upper Room because they were afraid that what had happened to Jesus would happen to them also. After all, they had been His followers.
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Shalom. An ordinary greeting which the Israelite conceived as a gift of Yahweh. The word “Shalom” does not translate well; peace is usually used in English translations but it does not connote the rich meaning: “completeness, perfection, a condition in which nothing is lacking”.
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The wounds of crucifixion. There is no indication that, like Thomas, the others probed the wounds with their fingers.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
All was not lost after all; their leader had returned.
21 (Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
Jesus was sent with authority to bring about healing and repentance; to heal the Church through forgiveness of sins. The sinful nature of man is what had kept him from God all through the Old Covenant. He is sending them with the same authority with which He was given.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.
There is a beautiful play on the Hebrew word ruah which is the same for breath, wind, and spirit. If you recall the Baltimore Catechism definition of a sacrament, what we have here is a sacrament in one verse: an outward sign (He breathed on them) instituted by Christ (He who did the breathing) to give grace (receive the Holy Spirit).
23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
The disciples (and their successors by extension) have the authority to forgive sins in Jesus’ name. The mission of reconciliation was so important to God that He sent His Son to institute the practice. Only through reconciliation with God can we act as His sons and daughters; including eat the family meal (Eucharist) which binds us all together.
“I don’t go to a man to confess to my sins; only God can forgive sins” says the Protestant. “Neither do I” responds the Catholic, “I go to God’s duly appointed and commissioned representative who was given the responsibility of forgiving (or binding) my sins as God works through him”. James 5:13-16 says “Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders (presbyters) of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” Notice that you are to call the presbyters (this is the root word for priests) and confess your sins to him. Why do I confess to a priest? Because the Bible (and God) tells me to!
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
Introduction
Pentecost is an Israelite-Jewish festival. In Exodus 23:14-17 it is called simply the harvest festival, the feast of first-fruits of the grain harvest. In Exodus 34:22 it is called the feast of weeks, the first-fruits of the grain harvest. In Leviticus 23:15-21 the feast is reckoned by counting seven weeks from the beginning of the grain harvest; it is a day of Sabbatical observance. In Numbers 28:26-31 it is called the feast of weeks, the day of first-fruits. In Deuteronomy 16:9-12 it is the feast of weeks, which occurs seven weeks after the beginning of the grain harvest. It is one of the three major festivals in all the older lists of feasts.
It is probable that it was later in origin than Passover and did not take form until the Israelites had become a primarily agricultural community in Canaan. The time of the festival in its original celebration must have been indefinite, since the beginning of the grain harvest can’t be put at a certain day in the calendar. The beginning of the grain harvest corresponds with the feast of Matzoth (unleavened bread). When Passover and Matzoth were combined and set on the 14th of Nisan, the festival of weeks received a regular date in the calendar seven weeks (50 days) after Passover.
As a major feast, all Jewish males over the age of 12 were expected to try to celebrate it in Jerusalem.
1st Reading - Acts 2:1-11
The setting is 50 days after the first Easter, 10 days since Christ has ascended and left the disciples with responsibility for administering His Church. Before He ascended He had told them “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). So, after the ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and the Upper Room. While there, the eleven selected by lot Matthias to take Judas’ place, showing that the office of Bishop is to be a perpetual office [as Acts 1:20 (KJV) says, quoting Psalm 109:8, “and his bishopric let another take”].
2:1 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.
120 people (Acts 1:15) in the same house? Must be a big place. Remember, there was no indoor plumbing in those days.
2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.
There is a phonetic relationship in the Greek between “pnue” (wind) and “pneuma” (spirit). In Hebrew the word “ruah” is the same for “wind, breath, spirit”.
3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
Compare with Isaiah 66:15-20. With storm wind and fire the heavenly origin of the Spirit is expressed, and with its division, its destination in all members of the assembly.
4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
The tongues of fire yield foreign tongues.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
A startling change from the confines of the house to the surrounding area. The Jews represent the ingathering of Israel from their dispersion among all the nations. Recall this is one of the feasts where one ventured to Jerusalem.
6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
The miracle is not in the hearing; the Spirit is in the speakers who speak in these foreign tongues. The root of the word translated as “confused” is the same as the word used in the Septuagint to describe the effect of the tower of Babel. The effect is reversed here.
7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, AAre not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Note the change in attitude of the crowd; from confused, to astounded, to amazed.
8 Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near
Cyrene,
A more or less geographical sweep from east to west. Gives the impression of universality.
as well as travelers from Rome,
Breaking with the geographical sweep, Luke moves to the center of the Roman empire; perhaps to prepare the way for Peter and Paul to settle there.
11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
As a conclusion to the list, western-most and eastern-most
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”
This is what the disciples “expressed themselves” and “made bold proclamation”.
Thus was the Church born. In one fell swoop, the disciples are transformed from timid persons holed up in a room to proud proclaimers of the marvels which God has accomplished.
2nd Reading -1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
This reading should sound familiar to us as we heard the first half of it the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time and the remainder of it the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle C). Paul is advising the Corinthians about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how these gifts are to be used to promote the common good.
3b [N]o one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.
The Corinthians had inquired as to which gift of the Holy Spirit was greater than another and had probably stopped living the Christian life as they became concerned about their own image and status. Paul undermines any spiritual elitism by reminding them that they had all made this baptismal confession (Romans 10:9).
“If no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Spirit, what can we say about those who do name His name but do not have the Spirit? Here we have to understand that Paul was not talking about catechumens who had not yet been baptized but about believers and unbelievers.” [Saint John Chrysostom (A.D. 392), Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 29,3]
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 5 there are different forms of service but the same Lord; 6 there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
The three-fold comparison of “different” – “same” contrasts different actions with the same common origin to emphasize that all, no matter how great or small they are perceived to be, have the same origin and therefore the same value.
7 To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.
These gifts are not for us to hold but for us to share. If we do not share the gifts, then the common good suffers.
“Each person receives a gift to that, governing his life by divine constraints, he may be useful both to himself and to others while presenting an example of good behavior.” [The Ambrosiaster (between A.D. 366 - 384), Commentaries on Thirteen Pauline Epistles]
12 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.
Paul continues this comparison by pointing out that the human body needs different parts to perform different functions; all of which benefit the whole. Since the Church is the Body of Christ, it too is formed of many different members who are to work together for the benefit of the whole. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
The diversity of the Church is rooted in its unity. The Spirit is within the Church and we are called to share a common existence in Christ.
Gospel - John 20:19-23
This reading should also sound familiar as we heard it last on the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Cycle B). What we hear about is Jesus’ first appearance to the apostles.
19 On the evening of that first day of the week,
The first Easter Sunday. All Jesus’ appearances after Easter which are dated (time coded) are on a Sunday.
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst
Through locked doors. The disciples had barricaded themselves in the Upper Room because they were afraid that what had happened to Jesus would happen to them also. After all, they had been His followers.
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Shalom. An ordinary greeting which the Israelite conceived as a gift of Yahweh. The word “Shalom” does not translate well; peace is usually used in English translations but it does not connote the rich meaning: “completeness, perfection, a condition in which nothing is lacking”.
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The wounds of crucifixion. There is no indication that, like Thomas, the others probed the wounds with their fingers.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
All was not lost after all; their leader had returned.
21 (Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
Jesus was sent with authority to bring about healing and repentance; to heal the Church through forgiveness of sins. The sinful nature of man is what had kept him from God all through the Old Covenant. He is sending them with the same authority with which He was given.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.
There is a beautiful play on the Hebrew word ruah which is the same for breath, wind, and spirit. If you recall the Baltimore Catechism definition of a sacrament, what we have here is a sacrament in one verse: an outward sign (He breathed on them) instituted by Christ (He who did the breathing) to give grace (receive the Holy Spirit).
23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
The disciples (and their successors by extension) have the authority to forgive sins in Jesus’ name. The mission of reconciliation was so important to God that He sent His Son to institute the practice. Only through reconciliation with God can we act as His sons and daughters; including eat the family meal (Eucharist) which binds us all together.
“I don’t go to a man to confess to my sins; only God can forgive sins” says the Protestant. “Neither do I” responds the Catholic, “I go to God’s duly appointed and commissioned representative who was given the responsibility of forgiving (or binding) my sins as God works through him”. James 5:13-16 says “Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders (presbyters) of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” Notice that you are to call the presbyters (this is the root word for priests) and confess your sins to him. Why do I confess to a priest? Because the Bible (and God) tells me to!
SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST SUNDAY
SUNDAY, MAY 31, JOHN 20:19-23
(Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25)
SUNDAY, MAY 31, JOHN 20:19-23
(Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25)
KEY VERSE: He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (v.22).
TO KNOW: The great harvest that Jesus promised (Lk 10:2) had begun at Pentecost, which the Jews dedicated to the gathering and offering of the first fruits (Hb Shavuot, 50 days after Passover). The Christian feast of Pentecost, which occurs 50 days after Easter, marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples (Acts 2:1-4). In John's Gospel, the resurrection, ascension and the descent of the Spirit occurred on the same Easter Sunday. It is most likely that the disciples were gathered in the upper room where the Last Supper had been held. But they were fearful that the emissaries of the Sanhedrin would come to arrest them. Upon seeing the Risen Lord, the disciples were overjoyed. Just as the breath of God created Adam, the first human being (Gn 2:7), Jesus breathed forth the Spirit creating the new people of God, the Church. Empowered by the Spirit, Jesus' disciples were sent forth to bring peace through the reconciliation of sinners. Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the third Person of the Holy Trinity, but more specifically, the love shared by the Father and the Son. “Come, Holy Spirit!” is the fundamental prayer of the Church -- in success or failure, whether one is young or old, rich or poor.
TO LOVE: What gift have you received from the Holy Spirit and how well are you using it right now?
TO SERVE: Holy Spirit, help me to bring peace and forgiveness to others.
NOTE: The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all
novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when he
sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on
the first Pentecost. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it
is a powerful plea for the light and strength so sorely needed by every
Christian.
The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost is called the birthday of the universal Church. Through the Spirit the Church realizes her call to preach the Gospel of Christ to the whole world. The double Alleluia at the end of Mass illustrates that the Easter Season has been brought to a close. The Easter Candle is extinguished and moved to the Baptistery. The 90 Days of Lent (40 days) and Easter (50 days) are over. But our call to Mission is not.
The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost is called the birthday of the universal Church. Through the Spirit the Church realizes her call to preach the Gospel of Christ to the whole world. The double Alleluia at the end of Mass illustrates that the Easter Season has been brought to a close. The Easter Candle is extinguished and moved to the Baptistery. The 90 Days of Lent (40 days) and Easter (50 days) are over. But our call to Mission is not.
Sunday 31 May 2020
Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1-11. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the
face of the earth – Psalm 103(104):1, 24, 29-31, 34. 1 Corinthians
12:3-7, 12-13. John 20:19-23.
‘Receive the Holy Spirit . . . ’
Celebrating the feast of Pentecost, we ponder gifts of the
Spirit. ‘There are many different gifts’, says Paul, ‘but always it is the same
Spirit. There are many different forms of activity, but it is the same God at
work in them all.’
Looking at humankind’s achievements, we marvel at the ingenuity
of the human mind. We recognise many beliefs, so many ways of living and are
humbled by our singular place in it all. Travelling to places of different
cultures we still see the work of the Spirit, inspiring growth and goodness.
We pray that in time we will see that everything has a place in
this magnificent creation, that nothing is excluded, and that we need only
accept the presence and working of the Spirit in our lives. The Spirit continues
working to bring us to fullness, to peace, and to a joy that is everlasting.
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saint of the Day for May 31
Memorial
Tablet | Master of the Spes Nostra
The Story of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This is a fairly late feast, going back only to the 13th or 14th
century. It was established widely throughout the Church to pray for unity. The
present date of celebration was set in 1969, in order to follow the
Annunciation of the Lord and precede the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
Like most feasts of Mary, it is closely connected with Jesus and
his saving work. The more visible actors in the visitation drama (see Luke
1:39-45) are Mary and Elizabeth. However, Jesus and John the Baptist steal the
scene in a hidden way. Jesus makes John leap with joy—the joy of messianic
salvation. Elizabeth, in turn, is filled with the Holy Spirit and addresses
words of praise to Mary—words that echo down through the ages.
It is helpful to recall that we do not have a journalist’s
account of this meeting. Rather Luke, speaking for the Church, gives a
prayerful poet’s rendition of the scene. Elizabeth’s praise of Mary as “the
mother of my Lord” can be viewed as the earliest Church’s devotion to Mary. As
with all authentic devotion to Mary, Elizabeth’s (the Church’s) words first
praise God for what God has done to Mary. Only secondly does she praise Mary
for trusting God’s words.
Then comes the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Here,
Mary herself—like the Church—traces all her greatness to God.
Reflection
One of the invocations in Mary’s litany is “Ark of the
Covenant.” Like the Ark of the Covenant of old, Mary brings God’s presence into
the lives of other people. As David danced before the Ark, John the Baptist
leaps for joy. As the Ark helped to unite the 12 tribes of Israel by being
placed in David’s capital, so Mary has the power to unite all Christians in her
son. At times, devotion to Mary may have occasioned some divisiveness, but we
can hope that authentic devotion will lead all to Christ and therefore, to one
another.
Lectio
Divina: Pentecost Sunday (A)
Lectio Divina
Sunday, May 31, 2020
The Mission of the Community
“Peace be with you!”
John 20, 19-23
“Peace be with you!”
John 20, 19-23
1. Opening prayer
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the
Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to
Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to
discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and
death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them
the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in
Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor
and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples
from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to
others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and
peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father
and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. Reading
a) A key to the reading:
The disciples were gathered together, and the doors were well
closed. They were afraid of the Jews.
All of a sudden, Jesus stood in their midst and said: “Peace be with you!” After showing them the hands and his side, once again he said: “Peace be with you”! As the Father has sent me, I also send you!” And immediately he gave them the gift of the Spirit so that they could forgive sins and reconcile persons among themselves and with God. To reconcile and to construct peace! Behold this is the mission which they received and which endures up until today!
All of a sudden, Jesus stood in their midst and said: “Peace be with you!” After showing them the hands and his side, once again he said: “Peace be with you”! As the Father has sent me, I also send you!” And immediately he gave them the gift of the Spirit so that they could forgive sins and reconcile persons among themselves and with God. To reconcile and to construct peace! Behold this is the mission which they received and which endures up until today!
Humanity is lacking peace more and more: to put together the
pieces of a disintegrated life, to reconstruct human relationships, broken
because of the injustices committed and because of so many other reasons. Jesus
insists on peace, and he repeats it several times! During the reading of the
brief text of the Gospel of this Pentecost Sunday, we try to be attentive to
the attitudes of Jesus as well as to those of the disciples, and to the words
of Jesus which he pronounces with such solemnity.
b) A division of the text to help the reading:
John 20, 19-20: The description of the experience of the
Resurrection
John 20, 21: the sending out: “As the Father has sent me, I also send you”
John 20, 22: The gift of the Spirit
John 20, 23: The power to forgive sins
John 20, 21: the sending out: “As the Father has sent me, I also send you”
John 20, 22: The gift of the Spirit
John 20, 23: The power to forgive sins
c) The Text:
19 In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week,
the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the
Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,' 20
and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples
were filled with joy at seeing the Lord, 21 and he said to them again, 'Peace
be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.' 22 After saying this
he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive
anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are
retained.
3. A moment of prayerful silence
so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
4. Some questions
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) What struck you most in the description of the experience of
the Resurrection?
b) Which are the characteristics of the Mission which the disciples receive?
c) Which are the characteristics of the action of the Holy Spirit which Jesus communicates to us?
d) How important is all this for the life of our community today?
e) Jesus insists: “Peace be with you!” Which steps should I take to reconstruct the peace and the broken relationships among persons?
b) Which are the characteristics of the Mission which the disciples receive?
c) Which are the characteristics of the action of the Holy Spirit which Jesus communicates to us?
d) How important is all this for the life of our community today?
e) Jesus insists: “Peace be with you!” Which steps should I take to reconstruct the peace and the broken relationships among persons?
5. For those who desire to deepen more on this theme
a) The context in which the Gospel of John was written:
The text of the Gospel of John is like a very beautiful fabric,
made with three threads of different colours. The three threads are so well
combined with one another that it is not always possible to see when one passes
from one thread to the other. (i) The first thread are the facts of the life of
Jesus, which took place in the year thirty in Palestine, preserved in the
memory of the Beloved Disciple and of many other witnesses (I Jn 1, 1-4). (ii)
The second thread are the facts of the life of the communities. Because of
their faith in Jesus and convinced of his presence, in their midst, the
communities enlightened their life with the Word and the gestures of Jesus.
That influenced the description of the facts. For example, the conflicts of the
communities with the Pharisees towards the end of the first century indicate
the way in which are described the conflicts of Jesus with the Pharisees. (iii)
The third thread are the comments made by the Evangelist. In certain passages,
it can hardly be perceived when Jesus finishes speaking and the redactor begins
to knit in his own comments. (Jn 2, 22; 3, 16-21; 7, 39; 12, 37-43; 20, 30-31).
b) Comment on the Text:
John 20, 19-20: A description of the experience of the
Resurrection
Jesus becomes present in the community. Not even the closed doors prevent him from being in the midst of those who do not recognize him. Even today, it is the same thing! When we are gathered together, even if all the doors are closed, Jesus is in our midst! And also today, the first word of Jesus, will always be: “Peace be with you!”
He shows the signs of the Passion on his hands and his side. The Risen Lord is the Crucified Lord! The Jesus who is with us in the community is not a glorious Jesus who had nothing in common with the life of the people. But it is the same Jesus who came on this earth and who bears the signs of his Passion. And today these same signs are found in the suffering of the people. They are the signs of hunger, of torture, of wars, of sickness, of violence, of injustice. So many signs! And in the persons who react and struggle for life, Jesus resurrects and makes himself present in our midst.
Jesus becomes present in the community. Not even the closed doors prevent him from being in the midst of those who do not recognize him. Even today, it is the same thing! When we are gathered together, even if all the doors are closed, Jesus is in our midst! And also today, the first word of Jesus, will always be: “Peace be with you!”
He shows the signs of the Passion on his hands and his side. The Risen Lord is the Crucified Lord! The Jesus who is with us in the community is not a glorious Jesus who had nothing in common with the life of the people. But it is the same Jesus who came on this earth and who bears the signs of his Passion. And today these same signs are found in the suffering of the people. They are the signs of hunger, of torture, of wars, of sickness, of violence, of injustice. So many signs! And in the persons who react and struggle for life, Jesus resurrects and makes himself present in our midst.
John 20, 21: The sending out: “As the Father has sent me, I
also send you!”
From this Crucified and Risen Jesus we receive the mission, the same one that He received from the Father. And for us also he repeats: “Peace be with you!” The repetition confirms the importance of peace. To construct peace forms part of the mission. The Peace which Jesus gives us means much more than the absence of war. It signifies to construct a human, harmonious environment, in which persons can be themselves, with all that is necessary to live, and where they can live happy and in peace. In one word, it means to construct a community according to the community of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
From this Crucified and Risen Jesus we receive the mission, the same one that He received from the Father. And for us also he repeats: “Peace be with you!” The repetition confirms the importance of peace. To construct peace forms part of the mission. The Peace which Jesus gives us means much more than the absence of war. It signifies to construct a human, harmonious environment, in which persons can be themselves, with all that is necessary to live, and where they can live happy and in peace. In one word, it means to construct a community according to the community of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
John 20.22: Jesus gives the gift of the Spirit
Jesus breathed and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit”. And therefore, it is with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can carry out the mission which He entrusts to us. In the Gospel of John, the Resurrection (Passover) and the effusion of the Spirit (Pentecost) are one same thing. All takes place in the same moment.
Jesus breathed and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit”. And therefore, it is with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can carry out the mission which He entrusts to us. In the Gospel of John, the Resurrection (Passover) and the effusion of the Spirit (Pentecost) are one same thing. All takes place in the same moment.
John 20, 23: Jesus gives the power to forgive sins
The central point of the mission of peace is found in reconciliation, in the effort to overcome the barriers which separate us: “to those to whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven and to those to whom you do not forgive them, will not be forgiven”. Then this power of reconciliation and of forgiving is given to the disciples. In the Gospel of Matthew, this same power is also given to Peter (Mt 16,19) and to the communities (Mt 18, 18). A community without pardon and without reconciliation is not a Christian community.
The central point of the mission of peace is found in reconciliation, in the effort to overcome the barriers which separate us: “to those to whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven and to those to whom you do not forgive them, will not be forgiven”. Then this power of reconciliation and of forgiving is given to the disciples. In the Gospel of Matthew, this same power is also given to Peter (Mt 16,19) and to the communities (Mt 18, 18). A community without pardon and without reconciliation is not a Christian community.
c)To deepen more:
i) The action of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John
In Hebrew the same word is used to say wind and spirit. The
wind has in itself a goal, a direction: North wind, South wind. The same for
the Spirit of God (the wind of God) has in itself a goal, a project, which
manifests itself in many ways in the works which the Spirit of God fulfils in
creation, in history, and above all, in Jesus. The great promise of the Spirit
becomes present in the prophets: the sight of the dry bones which become
alive, thanks to the force of the Spirit of God (Ez 37, 1-14); the effusion of
the Spirit of God on all people (Gl 3, 1-5); the vision of the Messiah the
Servant who will be anointed by the Spirit to re-establish the right on earth
and to proclaim the Good News to the poor (Is 11, 1-9; 42, 1; 44, 1-3; 61,
1-3). The prophets foresee a future in which the People of God is reborn thanks
to the effusion of the Spirit (Ez 36, 26-27; Ps 51, 12: cf. Is 32, 15-20).
In the Gospel of John these prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. As it happened in creation (Gen 1, 1), in the same way the Spirit appears and descends on Jesus “under the form of a dove from heaven” (Jn 1, 32), It is the beginning of the new creation! Jesus pronounces the words of God and communicates to us the Spirit in abundance (Jn 3, 34). His words are Spirit and life (Jn 6, 63). When Jesus leaves, he says that he will send another consoler, another defender whom he will leave with us. It is the Holy Spirit (Jn 14, 16-17). By his passion, death and resurrection, Jesus wins for us the gift of the Spirit. When he appears to the Apostles, he breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (Jn 20, 22). The first effect of the action of the Holy Spirit in us is reconciliation: “to those to whom you remit sins, they will be remitted and to those to whom you do not remit them, they will not be remitted!” (Jn 20, 23). Through Baptism we all receive this same Spirit of Jesus (Jn 1, 33). The Spirit is like the water which springs from within the person who believes in Jesus (Jn 7, 37-39; 4, 14). The Spirit is given to us to be able to remember and understand the full significance of the Words of Jesus (Jn 14, 26; 16, 12-13). Animated by the Spirit of Jesus we can adore God every where (Jn 4, 23-24). Here the liberty of the Spirit is lived. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”, Saint Paul confirms it ( 2 Cor 3, 17).
In the Gospel of John these prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. As it happened in creation (Gen 1, 1), in the same way the Spirit appears and descends on Jesus “under the form of a dove from heaven” (Jn 1, 32), It is the beginning of the new creation! Jesus pronounces the words of God and communicates to us the Spirit in abundance (Jn 3, 34). His words are Spirit and life (Jn 6, 63). When Jesus leaves, he says that he will send another consoler, another defender whom he will leave with us. It is the Holy Spirit (Jn 14, 16-17). By his passion, death and resurrection, Jesus wins for us the gift of the Spirit. When he appears to the Apostles, he breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (Jn 20, 22). The first effect of the action of the Holy Spirit in us is reconciliation: “to those to whom you remit sins, they will be remitted and to those to whom you do not remit them, they will not be remitted!” (Jn 20, 23). Through Baptism we all receive this same Spirit of Jesus (Jn 1, 33). The Spirit is like the water which springs from within the person who believes in Jesus (Jn 7, 37-39; 4, 14). The Spirit is given to us to be able to remember and understand the full significance of the Words of Jesus (Jn 14, 26; 16, 12-13). Animated by the Spirit of Jesus we can adore God every where (Jn 4, 23-24). Here the liberty of the Spirit is lived. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”, Saint Paul confirms it ( 2 Cor 3, 17).
ii) Shalom: the construction of peace
In the Gospel of John, the first encounter between the Risen
Jesus and his disciples is marked by a greeting: “Peace be with you!” The peace
which Jesus gives us is different from the Pax Romana, constructed by the Roman
Empire (Jn 14, 27). Peace in the Bible (shalom), is a word rich with a
deep significance. It means integrity of the persons before God and others. It
means also a full life, happy, abundant (Jn 10, 10). Peace is the sign of the presence
of God, because our God is a God of Peace “Yahweh is Peace” (Jer 6, 24). “May
the Peace of God be with you!” (Rom 15, 33). This is the reason why the peace
of God produces violent reactions. As the Psalm says: “Too long have I lived
among people who hate peace. When I speak of peace they are all for war!” (Ps
120, 6-7). The peace which Jesus gives us is the sign of a “sword” (Mt 10, 34).
It is necessary to have trust, to struggle, to work, to persevere in the Spirit
in order that the peace of God may triumph one day. And that day “love and
truth will meet, justice and peace will embrace” (Ps 85, 11). And then, “The
Kingdom of God will be justice, peace and joy, and these will be the fruits of
the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14, 17) and “God will be all in all” (I Co 15, 28).
6. Psalm 145
Description of the Kingdom of God
I shall praise you to the heights,
God my King, I shall bless your name for ever and ever.
Day after day I shall bless you,
I shall praise your name for ever and ever.
Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise,
his greatness beyond all reckoning.
God my King, I shall bless your name for ever and ever.
Day after day I shall bless you,
I shall praise your name for ever and ever.
Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise,
his greatness beyond all reckoning.
Each age will praise your deeds to the next,
proclaiming your mighty works.
Your renown is the splendor of your glory,
I will ponder the story of your wonders.
They will speak of your awesome power,
and I shall recount your greatness.
They will bring out the memory of your great generosity,
and joyfully acclaim your saving justice.
Yahweh is tenderness and pity,
slow to anger, full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all,
his tenderness embraces all his creatures.
proclaiming your mighty works.
Your renown is the splendor of your glory,
I will ponder the story of your wonders.
They will speak of your awesome power,
and I shall recount your greatness.
They will bring out the memory of your great generosity,
and joyfully acclaim your saving justice.
Yahweh is tenderness and pity,
slow to anger, full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all,
his tenderness embraces all his creatures.
All your creatures shall thank you, Yahweh,
and your faithful shall bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingship
and tell of your might,
making known your mighty deeds to the children of Adam,
the glory and majesty of your kingship.
Your kingship is a kingship for ever,
your reign lasts from age to age.
Yahweh is trustworthy in all his words,
and upright in all his deeds.
and your faithful shall bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingship
and tell of your might,
making known your mighty deeds to the children of Adam,
the glory and majesty of your kingship.
Your kingship is a kingship for ever,
your reign lasts from age to age.
Yahweh is trustworthy in all his words,
and upright in all his deeds.
Yahweh supports all who stumble,
lifts up those who are bowed down.
All look to you in hope and
you feed them with the food of the season.
And, with generous hand,
you satisfy the desires of every living creature.
Upright in all that he does,
lifts up those who are bowed down.
All look to you in hope and
you feed them with the food of the season.
And, with generous hand,
you satisfy the desires of every living creature.
Upright in all that he does,
Yahweh acts only in faithful love.
He is close to all who call upon him,
all who call on him from the heart.
He fulfills the desires of all who fear him,
he hears their cry and he saves them.
Yahweh guards all who love him,
but all the wicked he destroys.
My mouth shall always praise Yahweh,
let every creature bless his holy name for ever and ever.
He is close to all who call upon him,
all who call on him from the heart.
He fulfills the desires of all who fear him,
he hears their cry and he saves them.
Yahweh guards all who love him,
but all the wicked he destroys.
My mouth shall always praise Yahweh,
let every creature bless his holy name for ever and ever.
7. Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to
understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions
and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us.
May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practise the Word.
You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever
and ever. Amen.
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