Feast of Pentecost

My dear friends in Christ,

The Season of Easter concludes with today’s celebration, the Feast of Pentecost. On Pentecost we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem; this event marks the beginning of the Church. The story of Pentecost is found in our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. In today’s Gospel, John tells how Jesus gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to His disciples. Yet the event in John’s Gospel takes place on Easter Sunday. There is no need to try to reconcile these two accounts. It is enough that we know that after His death, Jesus fulfilled His promise to send to His disciples a helper, an advocate, who would enable them to be His witnesses throughout the world. John reminds us about the integral connection between the gifts of peace and forgiveness and the action of the Holy Spirit. Jesus greets His disciples with the gift of peace. Jesus then commission s His disciples to continue the work that He has begun, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And so we pray: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.”

This weekend a new film entitled, Pope Francis: A Man of His Word (Hope is a Universal Message) opens nationwide. You can view the trailer for it online. It looks interesting. We should take the opportunity to see it and learn more about our Holy Father.

May God bless you all!

Father John