Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Sunday, 8 June 2014

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Sunday, 8 June 2014
Meditations: Acts 2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
Pentecost Sunday
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4)
Today we celebrate that great day when the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and the apostles. The power of God was on display in a dramatic way as three thousand people accepted the gospel, repented, were baptized, and joined the Church.
What followed was an exciting and continuous display of God’s power. People came together for prayer and the Eucharist. Many were healed of sicknesses or delivered from demons. Some felt compelled to care for the poor, and others, to proclaim the gospel abroad. Despite tensions from within and persecution from without, the Church continued to grow, all because the Spirit was at work.
Not long after today’s events, a “second Pentecost” occurred, this time to a group of Gentiles in Caesarea (Acts 10:44-48). Once again, Peter preached the gospel, the Holy Spirit was poured out, and many were converted. The people who had come with Peter—all faithful Jews—“were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles” (10:45). Then when Paul ventured out on his missionary journeys, the same thing happened: the gospel was preached, the Spirit was released, people were changed, and the Church grew.
You have the Holy Spirit no less than Peter and Paul and the apostles did. This same Spirit wants to help you draw close to Jesus, and he wants to make you into his instrument of salvation. So take some time today to accept the challenge. Ask him to guide you in the truth. Ask him to take from what is Jesus’ and make it known to you (John 16:13-14). And then try your best to follow the apostles’ example by looking for opportunities to share the good news so that the Spirit can touch more and more people.
“Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me with your love. Send your fire, and renew the face of the earth.” Amen.
Psalms 104:1 Bless Yahweh, my soul.
    Yahweh, my God, you are very great.
    You are clothed with honor and majesty.
24 Yahweh, how many are your works!
    In wisdom have you made them all.
    The earth is full of your riches.
29 You hide your face: they are troubled;
    you take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust.
30 You send out your Spirit and they are created.
    You renew the face of the ground.
31 Let Yahweh’s glory endure forever.
    Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
34 Let your meditation be sweet to him.
    I will rejoice in Yahweh.
1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
John 20:19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
(Acts 2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
Psalms 104:1 Bless Yahweh, my soul.
    Yahweh, my God, you are very great.
    You are clothed with honor and majesty.
24 Yahweh, how many are your works!
    In wisdom have you made them all.
    The earth is full of your riches.
29 You hide your face: they are troubled;
    you take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust.
30 You send out your Spirit and they are created.
    You renew the face of the ground.
31 Let Yahweh’s glory endure forever.
    Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
34 Let your meditation be sweet to him.
    I will rejoice in Yahweh.
1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
John 20:19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”)
1. The first reading describes the moment when the Holy Spirit “came to rest” on each one of the disciples. Witnesses are described as “confused”, “astounded” and “in amazement.” Each of us as baptized Catholics has also received the Holy Spirit. Do you believe there is enough evidence in your life to “convict” you of being a Christian with the Holy Spirit indwelling you? Do you believe that the Lord wants to give you a deeper infilling of his Spirit? How can this happen?
2. The responsorial psalm says the Holy Spirit will “renew the face of the earth”. What in your life would you like the Holy Spirit to renew?
3. The second reading says that spiritual gifts are given to each of us for the benefit of others. What spiritual gifts have you received from the Holy Spirit that can benefit your family, your parish, and others? What service could your undertake to reach out to others or serve your parish?
4. The second reading also uses the metaphor of a body to describe our Church, “and all parts of the body, though many, are one body.” In Christ, all differences are united. How tolerant are you of other members of the body of Christ who are different than you? What steps can you take, individually or with others, to bring more unity to your parish? Are you also willing to reach out to Christians who are not Catholic? If not, why not?
5. In the Gospel, Jesus’ first words to the disciples after his resurrection were words of consolation and reassurance: “peace be with you”. Following his example, what practical steps can you take to bring the Lord’s comfort and peace to others? What are the obstacles in you that keep you from witnessing God’s love to others?
6. The meditation makes this bold statement: “You have the Holy Spirit no less than Peter and Paul and the apostles did.” Do you believe this? Why or why not? The meditation goes on to say that “This same Spirit wants to help you draw close to Jesus, and he wants to make you into his instrument of salvation.” Who of us would not want the Holy Spirit to move in our lives the way it did in Peter and Paul, as well as in our parish and in our world! In what specific ways would you want the Holy Spirit to manifest himself more powerfully in your life, in your parish, and in the world?
7. Take some time now to pray and ask for a deeper infilling of the Holy Spirit. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
“Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me with your love. Send your fire, and renew the face of the earth.” Amen.
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