Acts 2.1-11・Ps. 104.1b+24, 29;30,31;34・1 Corinthians 12.3b-7,12-13・John 20.19-23 Counting the days from Easter Sunday, today is the 50th day, and is called Pentecost Sunday. The role & power, and the gifts & fruits of the Holy Spirit (all these are necessary to understand deeper as preparation in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation) empower each one of us to share the message of Jesus Christ to the world. So it will indeed help our recollection/reflection today if we reconsider look backing to the time we were prepared by our catechists for the Sacrament of Confirmation. This Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles marks the birth of the Church. We are supposed to be a celebrating Church, a celebrating community expressing the visible presence of God. We are called to openly live in the Spirit of Christ by spreading the message of forgiveness & reconciliation. In the first reading following the account from the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. Speaking in different languages, which we may consider as one of the many gifts & fruits of the Holy Spirit, enabled the Apostles to continue the work of Christ, and enables all people around the world too to receive the message much easier. The central message of our Gospel Reading today focuses on forgiveness and reconciliation. The same Holy Spirit enables us all to share this message to all nations. Foreigners become missionaries to foreign country, and all of us too within our own country and homes in many and different ways. Many gifts given by the Holy Spirit are intended to benefit the whole (entire) Body of Christ. In our Second reading, St. Paul teaches these various gifts. Each member of the Body of Christ carries a unique role in the growth of the Church. The Holy Spirit makes all charisms present in our Church beneficial and valuable for the spiritual growth of each member and the whole community, the Body of Christ. While Pentecost Sunday marks the end of Easter Season, we are all called to make these coming ordinary days of our church life (ordinary time in our liturgical calendar) truly extraordinary. Spontaneity in responding to our Christian calling means a heart always ready to participate in gospel proclamation, so our days even in its most and very ordinary atmosphere/environment becomes extraordinary and special, always inspired & nothing dull. Spontaneity can also be a sign of our deep prayer and spiritual life. A heart that is ready means being responsive all the time to the call of duty, so to say. Our Lord opens our lips and His Spirit moves us to action. We are called to be always ready to lead in prayer, to sum-up our day in thanksgiving, rest peacefully at night, and wake up as a better Christian. Let us fully embrace and share the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and enjoy in our daily lives the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
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