PENTECOST SUNDAY

Gospel: (John 14:15-16; 23-26)

Jesus said to his disciples, "If you love me, you will keep my commandment. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always. Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him…. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."

Reflection:

By this indwelling of the Holy Spirit we ourselves become advocates of God's presence for others. This gift of the Spirit, then, makes its demands on us. We must monitor the way we live so that others truly see us as advocates of God's presence bringing new life. This new life that we share with others might be so simple as a reassuring touch or helping hand, or as demanding as giving of our time and money. Living the paschal mystery means that we bask in the good gift of God's life that the Spirit brings. Pentecost is a celebration of both the gift of the Spirit and the effects of that gift—we are sharers in the one body of Christ who take up Jesus'mission to preach the good news of salvation. (Living Liturgy, p.140)

Vincentian Meditation:

One of the messages which the Church received from the Spirit of God at the Vatican Council II was that it should do more for the poor of the world. Over the past fifty years the Church has increased her interest in the poor. Not only has the Church tried to lighten the sufferings of the poor, but she has tried to be more efficient in bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Church to the poor. Pope John Paul II has said, "He who lacks material resources may be poor, but he who does not know the way which God marks out for him is even poorer. "What does it profit a man," asks Our Lord, "if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul?"(Mk 8:36) What, my dear friends, will it profit us if we gain the whole world for the poor, but do not help them to find the way which will lead them to God and the happiness of heaven? (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 255)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts after a moment of silence)

       How do we help the poor to find the way which will lead them to God?

Closing Prayer:

       Seeking the grace of the Holy Spirit, we pray,
              -Come, Holy Spirit
       That the winds of Pentecost may move us to deeds of love,
              -Come, Holy Spirit
       That the fire of Pentecost may breathe new hope into the hopeless,
              -Come, Holy Spirit
       That we may lead the poor to find their way to God,
              -Come, Holy Spirit Amen