Read the articles listed below and use the rest of the page as your guide for reflection:
- Workshop: The Coming of the Holy Spirit
- Mag-aral Tayo: Ang Hininga ng Panginoon (Jn. 20:19-23)
- Bibliya Tagala: Ang Mga Bunga ng Espiritu
- AgustinongPinoy: Ang He Gave Them Power to become Children of God (John 20:1-19)
- Mystical Geek: Invested with Power from On High
1. Acts 2:1-11 is a narration of the descent of the Holy Spirit. Not only the apostles were there but also the Mother of Jesus and other disciples. The event marks the transformation of the disciples into something like Noah’s family (cf. Gen. 11). The gift of tongues is highlighted. Luke tells us that those who heard them were “confused” an obvious reference to the Tower of Babel incident. What does this tell you about the possibility of unity in this world marked by divisions and racial walls?
2. In the Opening Prayer and Preface of the Mass, not only the gift of tongues is highlighted, but also its deeper significance: the new status of the disciples as “Church”, the family of God.
“Loosen our tongues to sing your praise in words beyond the power of speech for without your Spirit men and women could never raise their voices in words of peace or announce the truth that Jesus is Lord…” (Opening Prayer)
Today we celebrate the great beginning of your Church when the Holy Spirit made known to all peoples the one true God, and created from the many languages of humankind one voice to profess one faith… (Preface)
Why do you think is it important that the Body of Christ, the Church, be able to unite all of mankind under one obedience (=faith)? Considering the problem of secularization, what “language” can be used to extend to all men the reconciliation brought about by the death and resurrection of Christ?
3. The Gospel reading from John (Jn. 15:26-27;16:12-15) underlines the role of the Spirit as Advocate. In Mass Sequence, the Veni Creator Spiritus will be recited (or sung). Some relevant lines to consider are the following:
You, of comforters the best
you the soul’s most welcome guest
sweet refreshment here below
in our labor, rest most sweet
grateful coolness in the heat
solace in the midst of woe.
The above lines express different ways of understanding the Spirit as our Advocate, “Paraclete” — the one who stands alongside. How do you understand the Spirit in your life? Do you invoke the Spirit in times of trouble or distress?
