Pentecost

Jesus said to his disciples:

When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset. I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He will glorify me, since all he tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: All he tells you will be taken from what is mine.

The Virgin from a Pentecost Scene and the Figure of Saint Martin French (ca. 1245–48) ©Public Domain

Fr Tom's Reflection

The solemnity of Pentecost is a celebration of the universality of the love God has for us. We had been meditating on Jesus’ instruction to his disciples in the upper room in the context of the last supper and washing of the feet of his friends, disciples. Pentecost Sunday recounts the outpouring of these gifts by the Holy Spirit on the apostles and other disciples and the mother of Jesus ten days after the Ascension of Jesus and fifty days after his resurrection. Pentecost is the beginning of the Church, the salvific mission ofChrist continues to today. We shall never forget that this mission is not human project but divine. Happy Feast.