Deacon Matt's Reflection

Reflection for Pentecost Sunday: May 19, 2024

Acts 2:1-11: Let’s imagine ourselves with the other disciples during the first Pentecost. It thrills me to picture the disciples’ transformation from fear to wonderment and onward, to a truly transcendent joy and peace! The power, drama and holiness of the event had to be electrifying. Let yourself hear the wind and appreciate the overwhelming sense of unity among the believers as language barriers were removed. Those present were able to  understand one another; worshiping as one unified Body of Christ… as the Church is intended to be. The perfect understanding and love between the worshipers at this event must have been palpable and life-transforming; a foretaste of Heaven.

Psalm 104: “Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” Meditating on today’s psalm, we can focus on the Spirit of worship and adoration of God springing up within us; as we     further contemplate the miraculous event of the Pentecost experience. Reflect on the coming of the Holy Spirit; both in biblical times and today. Let’s allow ourselves time to focus on and “take in” the power and infinite love of our Creator and Redeemer.  Before the coming of the Holy Spirit, there could be no real unity in the Church, nor development of the virtues we need to have cultivated within us, in order to carry out our mission as disciples.

Now, with the Holy Spirit conferred upon us, we can, with God’s grace, conform ourselves to fulfilling God’s Will and plan for each one of us. In receiving the Holy Spirit we can both worship God and minister to others more authentically. With the Holy Spirit in us, and among us, we can truly renew the face of the earth!

Galatians 5:16-25: This passage is very appropriate for a Pentecost reading as St. Paul stresses that we each have a choice; as individuals, to live “by the Spirit” or “to gratify the desires of the flesh,” or; in other words, to give in to earthly pleasures and temptations. If anything, Paul is being bluntly straightforward with his tone. He contrasts for us the choice we face between “immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, anger, selfishness and division from others,” as opposed to, or contrasted to the “fruits” of living in harmony with the Holy Spirit. These pleasing fruits include “love, joy, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  Let’s pray for grace to make the right choices.

John 20:19-23: Here again, is a short passage with a vivid and powerful image! Reflecting upon this, we find ourselves with other fear-filled disciples in a locked room; where we’ve hidden ourselves and separated ourselves from others, and from God’s grace. Like so many other times in our lives; Jesus uses His “Master Key” of love to unlock the doors or to break down the barriers we’ve put up, separating us from Him.

Once inside with us, Jesus calms us with His reassuring words: “Peace be with you.” He then shows us the evidence of His wounds in His hands and His side. Ironically, it’s the evidence that He’s suffered that reassures us that it’s truly Jesus, with us. We now rejoice! Then, Jesus breathes on us His Holy Spirit. Consequently, we’re filled with Jesus’ own Presence; which we’re mandated to share.

Happy Pentecost!
Deacon Matt