4-May-2008
DearFriend,
Weall have moments in our lives when we feel enthusiastic, alive and energized
bywhat we are doing or what we are involved in; but we also have moments when
wefeel drained out, spiritless and deadbeat. We cannot be self-energized,
atleast not for long. But the Spirit of God is given to us and it can and
doesbring newness into our lives if we let it work in us. This spirit is a
giftfreely given to all who desire and welcome God into their lives. Have
a‘Come-alive in the Spirit’ weekend! Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: The Feast of Pentecost -“Come Holy Spirit and renew us!”
11‑May-2008 Readings:Acts 2: 1-11; Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13;
John 20: 19-23;
The
story of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is packed with theological
significance. Just as the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai marked the birth of
the people of God, so the giving of the Holy Spirit was the beginning of the
Church. According to Jewish tradition the giving of the law was accompanied by
a mighty sound, which turned, to fire from which issued a voice that proclaimed
the law. The same symbol of fire now acts as the vehicle of the Holy Spirit,
which brings new life to the Church. What gives the incident its specific
Christian colouring is the fire and the speaking in tongues. Fire was supposed
to be the sign of the last time, where fire purified and consumed impurities,
now the Spirit of Jesus comes to bring a new fire and a new spirit. Speaking in
tongues was meant to announce a new presence of God, a spontaneous outpouring
uttering the praises of God. Luke’s message here is that on this day the last
times begin and the new age of the Church is alive with the Spirit descending
on all peoples to proclaim salvation till the ends of the earth.
Fire
Fire is anawesome element. It can both destroy and create. Under arsonists,
fire can burnhomes and villages. Under skilled workers, fire can transform
materials intoceramics, steel and glass. For example,Steuben glass is noted
for its distinctive designs, extraordinary clarity andremarkable strength. It
took Steuben craftsmen almost a year to complete themassive ‘Great Ring of
Canada’ as our nation’s gift to Canada on the occasionof its centennial in
1967. Although many talents were used to fashion thatSteuben glass, it would
not have been possible without fire. Technicians canput together the right
combination of sand, alkalis and oxides, but only firecan transform these
ingredients into clear glass. Artists can create a designfor the glass, but
only fire can give it actual shape and form. –Because firehas such immense
power to transform and create new possibilities, it is an aptsymbol for the
Holy Spirit. Besides its power to transform, fire
has otheruses: it lights up, brightens and dispels darkness; it purifies and
consumesimpurities; all of which make it an ideal symbol of the Holy Spirit.
Albert Cylwicki in ‘His Word Resounds’
Inthe second reading Paul speaks to the Corinthians about the variety of gifts
ofthe Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit are not earned by any deed of ours
norare they meant solely for ourselves. They are freely bestowed on us and
aremeant for the building of the Christian community. The diversity of the
giftsand the extraordinariness of some of them, lead to some factions in
thecommunity. Paul had to remind his listeners that faith itself is the
greatestgift we possess and we cannot acknowledge Jesus as Lord unless we are
enabledby the Spirit. If the gifts of the Spirit divide us we are misusing
them. Wehave to use and cultivate the gifts of the spirit for the benefit of
all.
Cultivating The Spirit
Wemay possibly think that the vegetables and fruits of the earth have
alwaysexisted in their present state for the use of man. But that is not the
case.The wild plant is generally of little use as food, and only becomes
valuablethrough our care. The wild cabbage as it grows on some ocean cliff has
a longstalk and a few raw green leaves with a sharp and unpleasant taste. It
has bythe long cultivation of man been brought to its present state. The wild
peartree is an ugly bush, bristling with fierce thorns, and bearing a rough,
hard,and bitter fruit, in no way comparable with the delicious mellow pear of
somecared-for country orchard today. It is not without care and cultivation
thatthe fruits of the Spirit can be gained.
Anonymous
Though Jesus had foretold that he would rise from thedead after his death, the
disciples were gripped with fear and lockedthemselves indoors for fear of the
Jews. Into the room of his trapped peopleJesus came with his spirit and stood
among them. He breathes on them the HolySpirit. As the risen Jesus breathes on
them his peace, the disciples breathe inthe Spirit. The Holy Spirit is breath
they take in on that first Easter Sundayevening, the breath that gives them all
a new heart. Only in the gift of the Spirit is fear changed to freedom. Onlyin
the Spirit are the disciples empowered to understand the past anew and seethe
future with hope. The Holy Spirit is the exit from the hopelessness ofbeing
locked into a cruel and fearful past. The Spirit is the exit that leadsthem out
into the streets and marketplaces to proclaim fearlessly the good newsunmindful
of the consequences. Through the disciples of Jesus the Spirit willreach all
peoples till the ends of
the earth for all time. For the disciplesare commissioned to breathe out the
Spirit just as they had breathed in theSpirit; to share this new spirit with
multitudes of peoples who live in hope.Pentecost, the Greek word for fiftieth,
was a Jewish feast celebrating thecovenant God gave to his chosen people
through Moses, fifty days after theExodus. Now Pentecost becomes a Christian
feast when God renews his covenant, anew covenant through the Spirit given to
all peoples of the earth. Today is anew opportunity given to all to celebrate
the gift of new life. In the Spiritthe past is forgiven, our sins are wiped
away and we become a new creationfilled with God’s peace and joy. We not only
receive this gift but are calledto share this gift of peace, the forgiveness of
sins and joy with all peoples.We can accomplish this mighty task only in and
through His Spirit.
“Pentecost,formerly a Jewish harvest festival, is inseparable from Easter,
because itoffers us the fruits of Easter; the trophies conquered in a decisive
battle. Werealize that, although we have not yet achieved anything, all has
been given tous with this fruit, which the flowering of Easter promised: the
Spirit of God,aflame with his fire, which filled the universe and the earth.
Pentecost iswith the sending of the supreme Gift, the vindication of the divine
folly, ofthe prodigious generosity of the Father, of the superabundance of life
given tomankind in an eternal embrace. Pentecost fulfils the prophetic words:
‘youshall be as Gods’. Far from disregarding the realities of our life here
below,the Spirit both stimulates and encourages, and tells of a future: a new
heavenand a new earth! This is the transfiguration of all things put before us
in theclosing chapter of the Apocalypse –all that God had prepared for those
whom heloves. Is not the
Spirit this very eternal life, already commenced here below?Let us then listen
to the murmur of this living water saying: ‘Come to theFather’. In this rising
wind let us set sail –to live for God who is man’sdestiny.” –Glenstal Bible
Missal
Let
the Spirit flow
According to Greek mythology, one of the ‘labours’ imposed on Heracles was
tocleanse the stables of Augeas. The stables had a herd of three thousand
oxen,and the stalls had not been cleansed for thirty years! According to the
bondthe stables were to be cleared in a single day. Heracles accomplished the
tasknot by his own labour, but by directing the river Alphaeus and making it
runthrough the stables. It is only thus that the heart of man can be cleansed,
notby fighting individual impurities by unaided effort, but by letting in
theriver of cleansing, the Holy Spirit. Here is the joy and the method
ofovercoming sin.
J.B.F. Hallock in ‘More Quotes and Anecdotes’
Thelight within
I haveread somewhere about an old sculptor who had, among many other pieces of
workin his workshop, the model of a beautiful cathedral. It was covered with
thedust of years, and nobody admired it, although it was an exact model,
insideand out, of a fine cathedral. One day the old attendant placed a light
insidethe model, and its gleams shone through the beautiful stained glass
windows.Then all stopped to admire its beauty. The change that was wrought by
the lightwithin was marvellous. It is so with us all. We must have the light
within.
Anthony Castle in ’Quotes and Anecdotes’
Befilled with the Spirit
JohnHyde, the American missionary, was popularly called ‘praying Hyde’. He
served the Lord in Punjab and many cameto the Lord through his ministry. Here
is how the Holy Spirit worked in his ownlife. When he boarded the steamer at
New York bound for India, as a missionary,he found in his cabin a letter
addressed to him. It was from a friend and themain purpose of it was “I shall
not cease praying for you, dear John, until youare filled with the Holy
Spirit.” JohnHyde was hurt and angry. As a missionary he thought he had
already been filledwith the Holy Spirit. He knew the holy life led by his
friend and loved andrespected him. He paced up and down inhis cabin with rage
in his heart. There was a struggle within him, whichcontinued within him till
almost the end of his voyage. Slowly a conviction cameinto his heart that his
friend was right. He took a decision, that at any costhe would really be filled
with the Holy Spirit. A few days after his
arrival inIndia, Hyde went out with a missionary to an open-air service. The
missionaryspoke about Jesus as the real Saviour from sin. When he had finished
hisaddress, a respectable looking man asked the missionary whether he himself
hadbeen saved from sin. This question wentstraight to the heart of John Hyde.
He was sure that if that question had beenasked of him, he would not have been
able to speak of his own salvation. Whenhe went to his room, Hyde shut himself
in and pleaded with the Lord to give himvictory over all his sins or otherwise
he would go back to America. The Lordheard his penitent prayer and saw his
resolution. As Hyde himself said, “He diddeliver me, and I have not had a doubt
of this since. He has given me victorythrough the Holy Spirit.” Hyde was able
to lead more and more people into theministry of the Holy Spirit.
Daniel Sundararaj in ‘Manna for the Soul’
Maywe enjoy the gifts of the Spirit and share them with others!
Fr. Jude Botelho
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site
www.netforlife.net Thank you.
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