Acts 2:1-11: In this Pentecostal passage, the Holy Spirit enters and fills the whole house. The Holy Spirit also enters all of the disciples who had gathered there. Ponder that the Holy Spirit knows how to penetrate all the obstacles of sin and fear that we put up to block ourselves from God’s mercy and love. Reflect that our God has the “keys” to each and all of our minds, hearts and souls; but God won’t forcibly enter. God longs for us to invite Him into the locked rooms of our souls. God has the universal key that will connect us all to Him, and consequently, to one another. If our souls were covered with porcupine quills, our God would know the sequence for parting them, such that He can get through our defenses to hug us, ever closer to Him! Our God loves us; warts and quills and all and helps us to love one another, as well. With the Spirit’s inspiration, we can share love and faith more readily. Psalm 104: “Lord, send out your spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” This joyful psalm expresses profound gratitude and praise to God; as can be seen in Acts when the effects of the Holy Spirit on souls are described. Notice that the Spirit makes us more zealous for and appreciative of our God and our faith. The psalmist further encourages us to ponder the fact that God has the universal power to give life, restore it, or even to take life away. In conclusion, the psalmist wishes eternal glory for the Lord and longs for homage for the Lord that will also last forever. The psalmist prays for God to be “glad in all of His works,” (all of God’s people), and not just the psalmist, himself. 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13: Today, St. Paul gives us a profound gift to ponder and reflect upon; namely that we can’t even believe in God or be inspired to pray to God on our own. Our abilities to believe, pray to God and our capacities to adore and praise God are a gift from Him! Pondering this should keep us humble as we reflect upon our total and utter dependence upon God for every good thing in our lives! All of the talents and good things and powers that are in us are generous and free gifts of God for the good of our souls. This reflective passage celebrates our different talents and abilities, but also unites us in our differences, as Paul delights in the inter-dependence that God has ordained His disciples to have. This outlook of mutual respect and gratitude creates a unified Church that can function to fulfill its mission. John 20:19-23: Happy Pentecost! Read this passage a few times, with a loud fan on in the room, to help you to reflect on the enveloping Presence of our Most Blessed Trinity in the air around You, wherever you are! Reflect that God always knows where you are and how to reach you, whether you’re “hiding out,” or in the open. We can’t hide from our God for our darkest darkness is still full of Light and Love for Him! Just offer God, yourself… all of your talents and virtues and competencies… all of your warts and quills and sharp edges. God knows and loves you, despite and because of them.
Reflect on the fact that you love some imperfect people. Now, reflect that God loves even better than you or I do. God loves us!