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Sunday Reading Reflections for MAY 15 (the week coming up)
This is a discussion on Sunday Reading Reflections for MAY 15 (the week coming up) within the Christian Families - Catholic forums, part of the Culture category; Applying the Sunday Readings to everyday life
The Feast of Pentecost – 15 May 2005 Acts 2: 1-11 1 Corinthians ...
Sunday Reading Reflections for MAY 15 (the week coming up)
Applying the Sunday Readings to everyday life
The Feast of Pentecost – 15 May 2005 Acts 2: 1-111 Corinthians 12:2-7, 12, 13John 20: 19-23
Moody Publishers, the publishing department of the Chicago based Moody Bible Institute of Science, have produced a series if videos and DVDs celebrating `The God of Creation’. They include God of the Atom, Journey to the Edge of Creation (about outer space), the wonders of the Plant Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom and the Human Kingdom; the Wonders of the Deep, the Journey of Life (about seeds) etc. Wonderful as is the visible world, the electron microscope, the radio telescope and the underwater camera have revealed to us `the invisible within the visible’ world. These `tools’ have enormously enhanced our knowledge of the world of creation, providing us with abundant evidence of the wisdom, power, providence and love of God.
Yet more wonderful is the `invisible’ action of the Holy Spirit, who is bringing about the New Creation in the minds and hearts of human beings. Speaking of the Holy Spirit, whose feast we keep today, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: `At work since the creation, having previously `spoken through the prophets’, the Spirit will now be with and in the disciples, to teach them and guide them `into all truth’. (CCC page 58)
The `truth’ is centred around the saving work the Father sent Jesus to do. By his death on the Cross Jesus made amends for all sin for all time, and by so doing reconciled us to the Father. Jesus wasted no time in empowering the Apostles so that the work of reconciliation would be at the centre of the Mission of the Church. The Gospel for today tells us that on Easter Sunday Jesus breathed on the Apostles, giving them the power, through the Holy Spirit to forgive or retain sins, and sent (co-missioned) them to begin the work of reconciliation.
Just 50 days later men from the Jewish communities dispersed throughout the Mediterranean came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Passover. Not surprisingly, the Holy Spirit used the opportunity, giving the Apostles the ability to preach to them in their own language `about the marvels of God’. So they took the Christian message to the communities from which they came, thus preparing the way for the Apostles when they set out to fulfil `The Great Commission …..
`Go out and preach the Gospel to every creature’.
The Second Reading shows that the goal of their preaching was to bring people to the point when, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, they acknowledged `Jesus is Lord’. But the work of the Holy Spirit didn’t stop with their conversion. He distributed `a variety of gifts’ , the particular gifts being given to each person `for a good purpose’ , to enable `all sorts of service to be done’.
If the Church is to succeed in its task of re-evangelising the developed world each and every Christian must live out their Baptism and Confirmation. At our Confirmation we were called to open our minds and hearts to allow the Holy Spirit to help us discern, and activate, the particular gift he has given to each person.
So what `service’ do you think you could provide? Grace builds on nature, so what about hospitality? You could be a `Welcomer’ greeting people as they come to Mass. If you are a musician, or are good at art, or crafts, of flower arranging, why not offer your services to those responsible for the Liturgy? Serving the Parish as a Catechist is a way of deepening your own understanding of the faith as well as helping others. Are you a good listener? Then why not become a `befriender’ of the bereaved, or those who are housebound? Why not offer to be a Prayer Sponsor for children or adults who are preparing for First Communion, Confirmation, or Reception into the Church? If you have a St. Vincent de Paul Conference in your parish you can serve those in physical or spiritual need. If you have been blessed with money, giving money `for a good purpose’ is a way of living out your Baptism. We can all speak about the gospel to those in our family, our friends, or those with whom we work, or recreate. So, spend a little time this week asking the Holy Spirit to help you discern and activate your particular gifts so you can play your part in re-evangelising the `developed’ world in which we are fortunate enough to live.
__________________
Michelle
mom to Alex (5/98), Kate (9/01), & Meg (2/04)
Last edited by itsbelong : 05-23-2005 at 07:08 PM.
Sunday Reading Reflections for MAY 15 (the week coming up)
