MAY 27, 2012 : PENTECOST SUNDAY

VIGIL MASS

Pentecost Sunday 
Lectionary: 62

Reading 1 Gn 11:1-9

The whole world spoke the same language, using the same words.
While the people were migrating in the east,
they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there.
They said to one another,
"Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire."
They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city
and a tower with its top in the sky,
and so make a name for ourselves;
otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth."

The LORD came down to see the city and the tower
that the people had built.
Then the LORD said: "If now, while they are one people,
all speaking the same language,
they have started to do this,
nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do.
Let us then go down there and confuse their language,
so that one will not understand what another says."
Thus the LORD scattered them from there all over the earth,
and they stopped building the city.
That is why it was called Babel,
because there the LORD confused the speech of all the world.
It was from that place that he scattered them all over the earth.

Or Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b

Moses went up the mountain to God.
Then the LORD called to him and said,
"Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob;
tell the Israelites:
You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians
and how I bore you up on eagle wings
and brought you here to myself.
Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant,
you shall be my special possession,
dearer to me than all other people,
though all the earth is mine.
You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.
That is what you must tell the Israelites."
So Moses went and summoned the elders of the people.
When he set before them
all that the LORD had ordered him to tell them,
the people all answered together,
"Everything the LORD has said, we will do."

On the morning of the third day
there were peals of thunder and lightning,
and a heavy cloud over the mountain,
and a very loud trumpet blast,
so that all the people in the camp trembled.
But Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God,
and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain.
Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke,
for the LORD came down upon it in fire.
The smoke rose from it as though from a furnace,
and the whole mountain trembled violently.
The trumpet blast grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking,
and God answering him with thunder.

When the LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai,
he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain.

Or Ez 37:1-14

The hand of the LORD came upon me,
and he led me out in the spirit of the LORD
and set me in the center of the plain,
which was now filled with bones.
He made me walk among the bones in every direction
so that I saw how many they were on the surface of the plain.
How dry they were!
He asked me:
Son of man, can these bones come to life?
I answered, "Lord GOD, you alone know that."
Then he said to me:
Prophesy over these bones, and say to them:
Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones:
See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life.
I will put sinews upon you, make flesh grow over you,
cover you with skin, and put spirit in you
so that you may come to life and know that I am the LORD.
I, Ezekiel, prophesied as I had been told,
and even as I was prophesying I heard a noise;
it was a rattling as the bones came together, bone joining bone.
I saw the sinews and the flesh come upon them,
and the skin cover them, but there was no spirit in them.
Then the LORD said to me:
Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man,
and say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord GOD:
From the four winds come, O spirit,
and breathe into these slain that they may come to life.
I prophesied as he told me, and the spirit came into them;
they came alive and stood upright, a vast army.
Then he said to me:
Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.
They have been saying,
"Our bones are dried up,
our hope is lost, and we are cut off."
Therefore, prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD:
O my people, I will open your graves
and have you rise from them,
and bring you back to the land of Israel.
Then you shall know that I am the LORD,
when I open your graves and have you rise from them,
O my people!
I will put my spirit in you that you may live,
and I will settle you upon your land;
thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

Or Jl 3:1-5

Thus says the LORD:
I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.
Your sons and daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions;
even upon the servants and the handmaids,
in those days, I will pour out my spirit.
And I will work wonders in the heavens and on the earth,
blood, fire, and columns of smoke;
the sun will be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
at the coming of the day of the LORD,
the great and terrible day.
Then everyone shall be rescued
who calls on the name of the LORD;
for on Mount Zion there shall be a remnant,
as the LORD has said,
and in Jerusalem survivors
whom the LORD shall call.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-28, 30

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!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them allC
the earth is full of your creatures;
bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Creatures all look to you
to give them food in due time.
When you give it to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
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.

Reading 2 Rom 8:22-27

Brothers and sisters:
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;
and not only that, but we ourselves,
who have the first fruits of the Spirit,
we also groan within ourselves
as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that sees is not hope.
For who hopes for what one sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.

In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God's will.

Gospel Jn 7:37-39

On the last and greatest day of the feast,
Jesus stood up and exclaimed,
"Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.
As Scripture says:
Rivers of living water will flow from within him who believes in me."

He said this in reference to the Spirit
that those who came to believe in him were to receive.
There was, of course, no Spirit yet,
because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

(www.usccb.org)

MASS DURING THE DAY

Pentecost Sunday 
Lectionary: 63

Reading 1 Acts 2:1-11

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.

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."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

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.

Reading 2 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13

Brothers and sisters:
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.

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.

Or Gal 5:16-25

Brothers and sisters, live by the Spirit
and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other,
so that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

Gospel Jn 20:19-23

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."

Or Jn 15:26-27; 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.

"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you."

(www.usccb.org)

Scripture Study

May 27, 2012 Pentecost Sunday

This Sunday the Easter Season draws to a close with the celebration of Pentecost. We celebrate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Church and the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit within the Church. This became the birthday of the Church, the day that the Church went public and invited the world to share in the life of Christ. The three readings provided here are the ones that will be used at St. Raymond Parish. Alternate readings are provided in the Lectionary for the Second Reading (Galatians 5:16-25) and for the Gospel (John 15:26-27; 16:12-15) which are not given here. Be flexible as your local parish may use any of these choices instead of the ones we will use.

NOTES on First Reading:

* 2:1-41 Luke's Pentecostal narrative in Acts consists essentially of an introduction (Acts 2:1-13), and Peter's speech declaring the resurrection of Jesus and its messianic significance (Acts 2:14-36), followed by a favorable response from the audience (Acts 2:37-41). It is likely that the narrative telescopes events that took place over a longer period of time and on a less dramatic scale. The Twelve were not originally in a position to publicly proclaim the messianic office of Jesus without incurring immediate reprisal from the same religious authorities in Jerusalem who had brought about Jesus' death precisely to stem the rising tide in his favor. 

The "day of Pentecost had fully come" in Greek is an expression that implies fulfillment not just in time but also in action. Use of the singular, "day" probably is a poor way of translating the idea that involves the end of an extended time of waiting for many days. It refers not only to the end of the festival period but more pointedly to the awaited "day" of the prophet's forecast (vv17-21) and the master's promise (1:5-8; Luke 24:49). 

* 2:2-3 Wind and spirit are associated in John 3:8. The sound of a great rush of wind is seen as a herald of a new action of God in the history of salvation. These verses portray a theophany of the Spirit with a strong resemblance to the theophany marking the gathering of Israel in the Septuagint (Greek) version of Isaiah 66:15-20. See also Exodus 19:16 for related theophany traditions. 

* 2:3 In Exodus 19:18 fire symbolizes the presence of God and initiates the covenant on Sinai. Here the Holy Spirit acts upon the apostles, preparing them to proclaim the new covenant with the unique gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38). 

* 2:4 The Holy Spirit in the pre-Lucan story was the charismatic power of early Christians (1 Cor 12-14), the source of miracles and ecstasies and insights and powerful speech and prayer. Luke does not dwell overly much on this feature of the Spirit. Instead he broadens it into a comprehensive expression of the dynamism of the mission(4:8,31; 6:10; 8:29,39; 10:19-20; 11:12; 13:2-4; 20:22-23; 21:4,11). The Spirit becomes the prime mover in the expansion of the Church (10:19; 11:12; 15:28). 

Ecstatic prayer in praise of God is interpreted in Acts 2:6,11 as speaking in foreign languages, symbolizing the worldwide mission of the church. Later in Christian tradition there will be a distinction made between ecstatic prayer in praise of God (jubilation) and preaching or teaching in one language and being understood in another (tongues). In the early church such a distinction was not made. 

* 2:5 Luke describes a gathering of Israel just as at Mt. Sinai where they received the law through Moses. Now the gathered Israel will receive the new law from Jesus through the action of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost reverses the Tower of Babel event. 

* 2:6 The word used for language, "dialektos", means the language of a people or a region(1:19; 21:40: 22:2; 26:14). 

* 2:9-11 These verses contain a stylized list of places that probably had been in use for considerable time before Luke incorporated it into the narrative. In general the locations form a broad sweep from east to west.

NOTES on Second Reading:

* The portions shown in brackets above are not included in the reading but were included here for completeness.

* 12:4-6 There are some features common to all charisms, despite their diversity: all are gifts (charismata), grace from outside ourselves; all are forms of service (diakoniai), an expression of their purpose and effect; and all are workings (energemata), in which God is at work. 

Paul associates each of these aspects with what later theology will call one of the persons of the Trinity, an early example of "appropriation." 

* 12:7 As all of the gifts have a common origin they also have a common goal and purpose. 

* 12:8-10 The list of gifts is not exhaustive and precise definitions are not possible. Many of the meanings assumed by various charismatic groups are probably overly restrictive and arbitrary compared to Paul's wider categories. 

* 12:11 Since all of the gifts are activated by the Spirit in His own way and for His own purposes no one should find reason for pride in any of the gifts. 

* 12:12-30 In this reading we get just two verses of a much longer and well developed image. The idea of society as a body was common and widespread in the ancient world but it is not a likely source for the concept as Paul uses it for the Church. He tended to see society as characterized by division and predicated "body" of the Christian community to emphasize its organic unity. The image of a body also serves to explain Christ's relationship with believers (1 Cor 12:12). 1 Cor 12:13 applies this model to the church. In baptism all of us, despite our diversity are integrated into one organism, Christ Himself. Verses 14-26 discuss the need for diversity of function among the parts of a body without causing a threat to its unity. 

* 12:12 The many members share one existence in Christ who is their life. 

* 12:13 The use of aorist tense in the verb in the indicative mood expresses past action and thus is probably not a reference to the Eucharist. Rather it most likely was meant to refer to the Spirit present within the Church.

NOTES on Gospel:

* 20:19-29 The appearances to the disciples, without or with Thomas (John 11:16; 14:5), have rough parallels in the other gospels only for John 20:19-23; see Luke 24:36-39; Mark 16:14-18. 

Implicitly from John 20:24 "the disciples" means ten of the Twelve, presumably in Jerusalem. "Peace be with you" echoes John 14:27. The theme of rejoicing in John 20:20 echoes John 16:22. 

* 20:20 In contrast to John, Luke 24:39-40 mentions "hands and feet," based on Psalm 22:17. 

* 20:21 Though John does not use the noun in reference to them, this is where the Eleven really become Apostles ("those sent"); see John 17:18. Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47, and Mark 16:15 also make a solemn mission or "sending" the subject of the post-resurrection appearances to the Eleven. 

* 20:22 This action echoes Genesis 2:7, where God breathed on the first man and gave him life. Just as Adam's life came from God, so now the disciples' new spiritual life comes from Jesus. They are new creations in this Spirit of Jesus. See also the revivification of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37. This event is John's version of Pentecost. 

The apostles did truly receive the Holy Spirit at this time although the gifts of the Holy Spirit were not manifested until Pentecost. 

* 20:23 Jesus here gives his apostles the task of continuing His ministry of reconciliation. They are charged with the task of forgiving sins as He had done during His ministry. This was defined by the Council of Trent as a scriptural basis for the sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation. See also Matthew 16:19; and Matthew 18:18.

(www.st-raymond-dublin.org)

Meditation:   "Receive the Holy Spirit!"

 Do you know and experience in your 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 thepower 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 fulness 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?

Prayer of Intercession for the Feast of Pentecost O living God, come and make our souls temples of thy Spirit.  Sanctify us, O Lord! Baptize thy whole Church with fire, that the divisions soon may cease, and that it may stand before the world as a pillar and buttress of thy truth.  Sanctify us, O Lord! Grant us all the fruits of thy Holy Spirit: brotherly love, joy, peace, patience, goodwill and faithfulness.  Sanctify us, O Lord! May the Holy Spirit speak by the voice of thy servants, here and everywhere, as they preach thy word.  Sanctify us, O Lord! Send thy Holy Spirit, the comforter, to all who face adversity, or who are the victims of men's wickedness.  Sanctify us, O Lord! Preserve all nations and their leaders from hatred and war, and build up a true community among nations, through the power of thy Spirit.  Sanctify us, O Lord! Holy Spirit, Lord and source of life, giver of the seven gifts,  Sanctify us, O Comforter. Spirit of wisdom and understanding, Spirit of counsel and strength,  Sanctify us, O Comforter. Spirit of knowledge and devotion, Spirit of obedience to the Lord.  Sanctify us, O Comforter. (Prayer of Taize Community)

"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."

(Don Schwager)

 Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth

Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Acts 2 marks a pivotal point in the New Testament. One hundred and twenty men and women became members of the church when it was born in the upper room. After the power of the Holy Spirit fell upon the believers, those visiting Jerusalem began to wonder how the disciples could speak so many languages.

Then Peter stood up and began to speak: the same Peter who ran in fear on the night of Jesus’ trial now spoke boldly. He captivated everyone with his compelling words. Peter knew where he was going; he didn’t focus on himself but on others. He exuded warmth and love and gave people practical answers to their needs.

What can we do? We can love life, give people hope and share ourselves. Let us ask God to bless us in our everyday lives. 
THOUGHT FOR TODAY

THE PRESENT

Today is a gift, that is why we call it the present.

Right now,

somebody is very proud of you;

somebody is thinking of you;

somebody is caring about you;

somebody misses you;

somebody hopes you are not in trouble;

somebody is thankful for the support you have provided;

somebosy wants you to be happy.

- School Assembly, 23 May 2002

 

From A Canopy of Stars: Some Reflections for the Journey by Fr Christopher Gleeson SJ [David Lovell Publishing 2003]

(www.churchresources.info)

MINUTE MEDITATIONS 

Good Angels
When it seems to you that you are alone and abandoned, don't complain that you are without a friend to whom you can open your heart.
— from Quiet Moments With Padre Pio: 120 Daily Readings

May 27
St. Augustine of Canterbury
(d. 605?)

In the year 596, some 40 monks set out from Rome to evangelize the Anglo-Saxons in England. Leading the group was Augustine, the prior of their monastery in Rome. Hardly had he and his men reached Gaul (France) when they heard stories of the ferocity of the Anglo-Saxons and of the treacherous waters of the English Channel. Augustine returned to Rome and to the pope who had sent them—St. Gregory the Great (September 3 )—only to be assured by him that their fears were groundless.

Augustine again set out. This time the group crossed the English Channel and landed in the territory of Kent, ruled by King Ethelbert, a pagan married to a Christian. Ethelbert received them kindly, set up a residence for them in Canterbury and within the year, on Pentecost Sunday, 597, was himself baptized. After being consecrated a bishop in France, Augustine returned to Canterbury, where he founded his see. He constructed a church and monastery near where the present cathedral, begun in 1070, now stands. As the faith spread, additional sees were established at London and Rochester.
Work was sometimes slow and Augustine did not always meet with success. Attempts to reconcile the Anglo-Saxon Christians with the original Briton Christians (who had been driven into western England by Anglo-Saxon invaders) ended in dismal failure. Augustine failed to convince the Britons to give up certain Celtic customs at variance with Rome and to forget their bitterness, helping him evangelize their Anglo-Saxon conquerors
Laboring patiently, Augustine wisely heeded the missionary principles—quite enlightened for the times—suggested by Pope Gregory the Great: purify rather than destroy pagan temples and customs; let pagan rites and festivals be transformed into Christian feasts; retain local customs as far as possible. The limited success Augustine achieved in England before his death in 605, a short eight years after he arrived in England, would eventually bear fruit long after in the conversion of England. Augustine of Canterbury can truly be called the “Apostle of England.”

Augustine's gravesite at Canterbury, England.

Comment:

Augustine of Canterbury comes across today as a very human saint, one who could suffer like many of us from a failure of nerve. For example, his first venture to England ended in a big U-turn back to Rome. He made mistakes and met failure in his peacemaking attempts with the Briton Christians. He often wrote to Rome for decisions on matters he could have decided on his own had he been more self-assured. He even received mild warnings against pride from Pope Gregory, who cautioned him to “fear lest, amidst the wonders that are done, the weak mind be puffed up by self-esteem.” Augustine’s perseverance amidst obstacles and only partial success teaches today’s apostles and pioneers to struggle on despite frustrations and be satisfied with gradual advances.

Quote:

In a letter to Augustine, Pope Gregory the Great wrote: "He who would climb to a lofty height must go by steps, not leaps."

Patron Saint of:

England

LECTIO: THE PENTECOST SUNDAY (B)

Lectio: 

 Sunday, May 27, 2012

The witness of the Holy Spirit
and the witness of the disciples
John 15, 26-27. 16, 12-15

1. Opening prayer

Oh, My Father, when will the Consoler come? When will your Spirit of Truth reach me? The Lord Jesus has promised Him, He has said that He would have sent Him from your womb down to us. Father, then, open wide your heart and send Him from your holy Heavens, from your high dwelling! Do not delay any more, but fulfil the ancient promise; save us today, for ever! Open and free your Love for us, in order that I too can be open and freed by You, in You. May this Word of yours today be the holy place of our encounter, be the nuptial room to be immersed in You, Oh Trinity who are Love! Come in me and I in You; dwell in me and I in You. Remain, Father! Remain Oh Son Jesus Christ! Remain for ever, Consoler Spirit, do not leave me ever! Amen.

2. Reading

a) In order to insert this passage in its context:

The few verses which the Liturgy offers us today for meditation belong to the great farewell discourse which Jesus addressed to his disciples before the Passion, and which John extends from 13, 31 to the end of chapter 17. Here Jesus begins to speak of the unavoidable consequence of the following of the choice of faith and love for Him; the disciple has to be ready to suffer persecution from the world. But in this struggle, in this pain, there is a Consolation, there is a Defender, an Advocate Who witnesses for us and saves us: the gift of the Spirit illuminates the human adventure of the disciple and fills us with a living hope. He is sent to make us understand the mystery of Christ and to make us participate in it.

b) To help in the reading of the passage:

15, 26-27: Jesus announces the coming of the Holy Spirit, as Consoler, as the defending Advocate: He will be the one to act in the process of accusation which the world has against the disciples of Christ. He will be the one to make them strong in persecution. The Spirit renders witness to the world regarding the Lord Jesus; He defends Christ, who is contested, accused, rejected. But the witness of the disciples is also necessary; the Spirit has to use them to proclaim with strength, in this world, the Lord Jesus. It is the beauty of our life transformed into a witness of love and fidelity to Christ.
16, 12: Jesus places his disciples – and therefore, us too – before their condition of poverty, of incapacity, by which it is not given to them to understand well neither the words of Jesus, nor the words of Scripture. His truth is still a burden, which they cannot receive, to lift up and carry.
16, 13 –15: In these last verses, the Word of Jesus reveals to the disciples which will be the action of His Spirit in them. He will be the one to guide them in the whole truth, that is, He will make them understand the mystery of Jesus in all its importance or significance, in the totality of His truth. He will guide, reveal, proclaim, illuminate, bringing to us, his disciples, the words themselves of the Father, and in this way we will be led to the encounter with God; by His grace we will be rendered capable to understand the depth of the Father and of the Son.

c) The Text:

^15, 26 When the Paraclete comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. 27 And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning.
^16, 12 I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now. 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking of his own accord, but will say only what he has been told; and he will reveal to you the things to come. 14 He will glorify me, since all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine. 15 Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine.

3. A moment of prayerful silence

I keep silence, From time to time I repeat in a low voice: “Come Holy Spirit”.

4. Some questions

a) “When the Paraclete will come”. Jesus immediately places me in front of a very concrete reality; He opens before me a new time, a diverse time and tells me that this is a time of waiting in my life. The Paraclete is about to come, the Holy Spirit. Why Lord, have I always waited for you for such a short time, why has my attention toward you been so weak, so hypocrite? You send someone to look for me and I am not even aware, I do not even show any interest.
b) “And you too will be witnesses”. Jesus affirms this, addressing himself to his disciples of that time and of today. He speaks precisely to me and tells me: “You too will be a witness”. I am afraid, you know it. Why lose importance before others: my companions in school, in the university, in my team, my friends, who invite me to go out with them? Why this great difficulty? Cannot I be a Christian just the same? You are my beginning and my end: you are my whole existence! How could I not be your witness, Lord? How can I continue to keep silence in this way?. 
c) “He will lead you to the complete truth”. I have always programmed very minutely when I move, my decisions to change; I have always been able to do everything alone. And now, Lord, you tell me that Another One will guide me. This is not an easy choice, I confess it. But I want to try, I want to accept you, Oh you who are Love. I allow myself to be taken hold of by your Spirit. Will He lead me to the desert, as he did with you (cf. Lk 4, 1)? Will he open my life, as he opened the womb of the Virgin Mary (Lk 1, 35)? Will he invest me as he did with Peter, with the others, with all who believed in the preaching, as it is narrated in the Acts of the Apostles? I do not know what will happen to me, but I want to say yes to you.

5. A key for the Reading

* The Holy Spirit Paraclete

At first sight this term may seem a bit strange; it confuses me, it disorientates me. I know that it is a Greek word which is quite diffused, already from ancient times, a bit in the whole Mediterranean world. Saint John used it above when he said: “I shall ask the Father, and He will give you another Paraclete, to be with you for ever” (Jn 14, 16) and revealing that the Spirit comers to console, to remain with them, to defend and to protect. Here, though, in this verse, there seems to emerge a diverse nuance: the Spirit presents himself to us as the Advocate, that is, the One who is at our side in the judgment, in the accusation, in the tribunal of persecution. We know it, the whole story, also that of our days, bears in its heart the accusation, the contempt, the condemnation for the Lord Jesus and for all those who love Him. This is the daily story of all. At the bench of the accused, at the side of Jesus , we also sit. But not alone. We have an Advocate. The Spirit of the Lord comes and acts in the judgment in our behalf: He has discourses, renders witness, tries to convince and to prove. His work is immense in our midst, for us. Before the Father, our Advocate is Jesus, as John writes in his first Letter (1 Jn 2, 1); but before the world, our Advocate is the Spirit, whom he sends to us from the Father. We should not prepare our defence beforehand (Lk 21, 14), thinking that we can excuse ourselves alone, but we have to make space, within us, for the breath of the Holy Spirit, allow him to be the one who speaks, says, proves. Paul also had to have this hard experience; he writes this in his second Letter to Timothy: “The first time I had to present my defence, no one came in to court to support me; Every one of them deserted me” (2 Tim 4, 16). and it is truly like that: there is no defence for us, no innocence, liberation, true freedom from jail, except in the intimate relationship with the Spirit of the Lord. He comes sent to us, in order that we may allow ourselves to be taken up by his presence, as in an embrace, as in an intimate and intense relationship of friendship, of trust, abandonment and love.

* The Witness

I begin to understand, continuing to accept, in my heart, the words of this Gospel, that the relationship of us, disciples with the Holy Spirit has as its purpose to render us capable of giving our witness on Jesus. We are united unconditionally with the Holy Spirit, we are grasped by Him, taken up in His fire, which is the reciprocal Love of the Father and of the Son, so that we too may become luminous, that we also may be sources of love in this world. 
To render witness means to affirm clearly, giving the proofs. The first one to do this, continually, is the Spirit, every place, at all times; he acts with power, in us and around us. He is the one who moves the hearts, who changes our distorted and hardened thoughts, who brings us closer, reconciles, impels to pardon, to union; He is also the One who heals the soul, the psychic, the sick body and heart. He is the One who teaches, trains and makes one docile, renders wise and simple, the poor, the pure. He gives witness of the Lord Jesus, the Saviour, through all his actions, soft touches of love and of communion on our desolate and dry earth. He certifies of the Crucifix, of the Suffering one out of love; He calls out concerning the Risen One, who has conquered and stepped on death for ever; He gives witness of the Living One, of the Glorified One of the One who is with us until the end of time. Behold, this is the witness. The Spirit introduces this in our world, brings it to us; we cannot remain indifferent, continue to doze, to choose a bit here and there. He is the truth. And there is only one truth: that of God, His Son Jesus Christ. We are called to give witness of all this, that is to place, to commit our life, out of love, for this truth. To give witness is to become martyrs, out of love. Not alone; not by our own strength, by our own wisdom. “You will also be my witnesses”, says Jesus. But our wisdom can only exist within the witness of the Holy Spirit; they are not parallel witnesses, but lives fused together: that of the Spirit and ours. This takes place before the infinite tribunals of the world, every day of our life, then, it becomes a sacred place, almost a sanctuary, of the witness to the Lord Jesus. It is not important to carry out great enterprises, to show wisdom and intelligence, to attract crowds of people; no, one thing alone suffices: to tell the world that the Lord is alive, that he is here, in our midst and to proclaim his mercy, his infinite love.

* The Father

The contact with the Holy Spirit, to allow ourselves to be embraced and invaded by Him, leads us to the Lord Jesus; it leads us to his Heart, to the source of His love. And from there we go to the Father. We had nothing, we were not able to bring anything with us, coming into this world and now, behold, we are loaded with gifts! Impossible to contain them all. It is necessary to allow them to over flow, to flow outside, toward the brothers and sisters whom we meet, or even if only to have a brief experience of life.
The Spirit speaks of Jesus and uses the words of the Father; He repeats to us what He hears from the womb of the Father. His dwelling is the Father, his house; and coming to us, the Spirit brings with Him the print, the seal of that dwelling, of that place of infinite communion, which is the womb of the Father. And we understand well that this is our house; we recognize the place of our origin and of our end. Receiving the Spirit of Jesus we rediscover that we also come from the Father, that we are born in Him and we live in Him. If we seek ourselves, if we want to find the way, the sense of our life here, all this is written in the words which the Spirit pronounces for us, within us, concerning us. It is truly necessary to have a great silence in order to be able to listen to understand him. It is necessary to go back to the house, to rethink finally in our Father and to say, within ourselves: “Yes, it is now enough! I have wandered far away from you for a long time, I have been lost… I will go back to my Father”. I see how many wonders the Spirit of truth can act, that my Lord Jesus Christ sends me from the Father. It will not be Pentecost, if I do not allow myself to be taken up by Him, to be led by Him to the womb of the Father, where Christ is already waiting for me, where the fire of the Holy Spirit is already burning for me.

6. A moment of prayer

Psalm 68 
(The tenderness of the Father is the dwelling of the poor)

Response: Abbà Father, I am your son!

I pray to you, Yahweh, 
at the time of your favour; 
in your faithful love answer me, 
in the constancy of your saving power.

Answer me, Yahweh, for your faithful love is generous; 
in your tenderness turn towards me;
do not turn away from your servant, 
be quick to answer me, for I am in trouble.
Come to my side, redeem me, 
ransom me because of my enemies.

The humble have seen and are glad. 
Let your courage revive, 
you who seek God.
For God listens to the poor, 
he has never scorned his captive people.

Let heaven and earth and seas, 
and all that stirs in them, acclaim him!
For God will save Zion, 
and rebuild the cities of Judah, 
and people will live there on their own land;
the descendants of his servants will inherit it, 
and those who love his name will dwell there.

7. Final Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the coming of the Consoler, the Advocate; thank you for his witness of Jesus in the world and in me, in my life. Thank you because it is He who makes me capable to receive and to bear the glorious weight of your Son and my Lord. Thank you, because He guides me in truth, He hands me over to the whole truth and reveals to me the Word which you yourself pronounce. Thank you, my Father, because in your goodness and tenderness you have joined me, today and you have attracted me to you, you have made me enter in the house of your heart; you have immersed me in the fire of the Trinitarian love, where you and your Son Jesus are only one in the infinite kiss of the Holy Spirit. I am also here and because of this my joy is overflowing. I pray you, Father, make me give this joy to all, in the loving witness of Jesus, the Saviour, every day of my life. Amen.

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