Solemnity of Pentecost May 31, 2009 (Jn 15:26-27, 16:12-15)
"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."
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."
The descent of the Holy Spirit is considered to be the birth of the Church. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that gave courage to the disciples to start proclaiming God's Word. On the day of Pentecost, Peter was able to draw three thousand people to the faith.
The Holy Spirit is the one who testifies about Jesus, so our Gospel tells us. It is the Holy Spirit who kindles in our hearts the fire of love for God and the zeal to proclaim God's Word, to testify to Jesus.
Jesus said in the Gospel today that His disciples should also testify to Him because they have been with Him from the beginning. They have heard Jesus' message first hand and they have witnessed His works. They have experienced Jesus. They ought to proclaim Jesus to all. We, too, as baptized Catholics, receive this responsibility.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us in Baptism. The message of Jesus has been handed down to us. We also experience Jesus in our daily lives and in the Sacraments. This special privilege gives us the responsibility to testify to Jesus.
The Holy Spirit gives us many gifts in order to fulfill our mission on earth. But there is only one Holy Spirit who gives us these gifts. There are many kinds of service, but there is only one mission (1 Cor 12:4-6). That mission is to proclaim Jesus in order to build up the Kingdom of God.
May the Holy Spirit once again inflame our hearts with the zeal to proclaim God and renew our lives, making it an offering to help build up God's Kingdom, the Church.
The Holy Spirit is the one who testifies about Jesus, so our Gospel tells us. It is the Holy Spirit who kindles in our hearts the fire of love for God and the zeal to proclaim God's Word, to testify to Jesus.
Jesus said in the Gospel today that His disciples should also testify to Him because they have been with Him from the beginning. They have heard Jesus' message first hand and they have witnessed His works. They have experienced Jesus. They ought to proclaim Jesus to all. We, too, as baptized Catholics, receive this responsibility.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us in Baptism. The message of Jesus has been handed down to us. We also experience Jesus in our daily lives and in the Sacraments. This special privilege gives us the responsibility to testify to Jesus.
The Holy Spirit gives us many gifts in order to fulfill our mission on earth. But there is only one Holy Spirit who gives us these gifts. There are many kinds of service, but there is only one mission (1 Cor 12:4-6). That mission is to proclaim Jesus in order to build up the Kingdom of God.
May the Holy Spirit once again inflame our hearts with the zeal to proclaim God and renew our lives, making it an offering to help build up God's Kingdom, the Church.
may the Holy Spirit strengthen you, fragile soul!
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