Pentecost Sunday

May 27, 2012

Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 (or Galatians 5:16-25); John 20:19-23

                John's Gospel presents an entirely different image of Pentecost than we are used to hearing. While the Acts of the Apostles shows the disciples gathered together in prayer as they await the coming of the Spirit, Jesus is the one who sends the Spirit on Easter night in the Fourth Gospel. John does away with the confusion of the Ascension and the awkward interim time of the bodily appearances of the Risen Jesus. Instead, the Resurrection is the central and final event. All divine events are contained firmly within the person of Jesus who is Lord of all.

          John's account of Pentecost gives it a unique power to dispel any fear the disciples hold. It fills their places of fear with confidence in the Lord so that fear and anxiety have no room for a believer. It brings about a secure peace that gives the disciples boldness to act without regard for the constraints of human law, but it creates a respectful responsibility to the surrounding culture. Most radically, Pentecost gives the believers power to bind and loose sins of others. This is a double action. We focus upon binding much more than loosening, but it is in the loosening where we allow for freedom and growth. The Church, especially its leaders, can help others when it learns how to let go.

          A major emphasis of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles is the unifying action of God's Spirit. It brings together people of every region and language. The Spirit's language unites the hearts and minds of the holy believing community. It is not bound by any limitations. The frontiers of faith are opened widely. Jews, Arabs, Cretans, and converts converse easily with one another because the divine language creates and brings people together in charity. Every cultural expression is able to find the divine. No one who loves the Lord can be left out. Every person who can say "Jesus is Lord" finds the Spirit operative within themselves in astonishingly particular ways. Because the gifts of the Spirit are diverse, we are able to celebrate each contribution with gladness instead of our usual tendency to compare, which brings about despair.

          Galatians cautions people to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh like their pagan neighbors. We are quick to take that to mean that any carnal or earthly desires are bad. The text does not say that. For instance, admiring a beautiful person imaginatively is O.K. We all want to look our best and we make our best moral choices within our station in life. Paul lists many negative behaviors that are a result of attitudes that result from unmet needs. Paul's point in Galatians is the same as John's. If we live according to the Spirit, we are not under the law, but free. It is about time that we learn to live in this freedom that does not restrict, but calls the best out of us.

          One who is in tune with the Spirit will naturally practice virtues that contain love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I know many lovable people who exhibit these qualities. I enjoy being near friends like this because they are pleasant to be around and because the Spirit's presence is palpable. We become what we admire, that is to look towards [ad (to) mire (to look)], and we soon find we are practicing the same virtues. I want to receive the Spirit so I may grow in these virtues.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: In his first letter, Peter tells the faithful ones to rejoice while they can because suffering awaits them. All their choices are to be made through the type of love Christ extended to us. For the salvation of your souls, live soberly and set your hopes completely on the grace brought about by the revelation of Jesus Christ. We have been ransomed from our futile conduct by the blood of Jesus. Love one another because we have been born anew. Be hospitable to one another and use your gifts so Jesus Christ may be glorified through you. Do not be surprised by trials, but rejoice that you share in Christ's sufferings. Jude tells us to build yourselves up in the love of God and wait for the mercy of Christ. Praise the one who is able to keep you from stumbling.

Gospel: As we return to ordinary time, we pick up again with Mark's Gospel. Jesus meets a man who asks what he can do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him, but it makes him sad because he cannot see the relationship between his moral life and possession retention. Peter and the disciples ask if they can be saved. After all, they gave up everything to follow him. Jesus tells them that everyone who has given up all possessions and family will enter the kingdom of heaven. James and John Zebedee ask for the privilege of sitting at his right hand in the kingdom. Jesus tells them the chalice from which they are to drink is one of suffering and new life. In Bethany, Jesus looked around for some food because he was hungry. He cursed the barren fig tree and used it as an example of Israel's barrenness because they were unable to remain faithful to God's life-giving commands. When Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem, the chief priests and scribes demanded to know by what authority Jesus performed miracles and spoke with authority. When they failed to answer an obvious question that pitted them against each other, Jesus thereby refused to answer their question. He invoked their authority.

Saints of the Week

May 27: Augustine of Canterbury, bishop (d. 604) was sent to England with 40 monks from St. Andrew's monastery to evangelize the pagans. They were well-received. Augustine was made bishop, established a hierarchy, and changed many pagans feasts to religious ones. Wales did not accept the mission; Scotland took St. Andrew's cross as their national symbol. Augustine began a Benedictine monastery at Canterbury and was Canterbury's first archbishop.

May 31: Visitation of the Virgin Mary commemorates the visit of Mary in her early pregnancy to Mary, who is reported to be her elder cousin. Luke writes about the shared rejoicing of the two women - Mary's conception by the Holy Spirit and Elizabeth's surprising pregnancy in her advanced years. Elizabeth calls Mary blessed and Mary sings her song of praise to God, the Magnificat.

June 1: Justin, martyr (100-165), was a Samaritan philosopher who converted to Christianity and explained doctrine through philosophical treatises. His debating opponent reported him to the Roman authorities who tried him and when he refused to sacrifice to the gods, was condemned to death.

June 2: Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs (d. 304) died in Rome during the Diocletian persecution. Peter was an exorcist who ministered under the well-regarded priest, Marcellinus. Stories are told that in jail they converted their jailer and his family. These men are remembered in Eucharistic prayer I.

This Week in Jesuit History

·         May 27, 1555. The Viceroy of India sent an embassy to Claudius, Emperor of Ethiopia, hoping to win him and his subjects over to Catholic unity. Nothing came of this venture, but Fr. Goncalvo de Silveira, who would become the Society's first martyr on the Africa soil, remained in the country.

·         May 28, 1962. The death of Bernard Hubbard famous Alaskan missionary. He was the author of the book Mush, You Malemutes! and wrote a number of articles on the Alaska mission.

·         May 29,1991. Pope John Paul II announces that Paulo Dezza, SJ is to become a Cardinal, as well as Jan Korec, in Slovakia.

·         May 30, 1849. Vincent Gioberti's book Il Gesuita Moderno was put on the Index. Gioberti had applied to be admitted into the Society, and on being refused became its bitter enemy and calumniator.

·         May 31, 1900. The new novitiate of the Buffalo Mission, St Stanislaus, in South Brooklyn, Ohio, near Cleveland, is blessed.

·         Jun 1, 1527. Ignatius was thrown into prison after having been accused of having advised two noblewomen to undertake a pilgrimage, on foot, to Compostella.

·         Jun 2, 1566. The Professed House was opened in Toledo. It became well known for the fervor of its residents and the wonderful effects of their labors.