Solemnity of Pentecost (B)

May 20, 2018

Readings:

First Reading; Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-11

Psalm: 104

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-7, 12-13 (or Galatians 5: 16-25)

Gospel reading according to John 20: 19-23 or (John 15: 26-27, 16: 12-15)

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Homily:

Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who had his suffering, passion, and death crucified on the cross, but on the third day he rose again from the dead, and now appeared to his disciples to where they were hiding because of the fear of the Jewish authorities.  “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews” (John 20: 19), they were afraid and hiding to avoid the arrest and even persecution because they were identified as disciples of Jesus whom they called Christ, the anointed Son of God the Father which the Jews found hard to accept.  The Jews run after the disciples, particularly the apostles.  Therefore, they locked themselves in the Upper Room (Cenacle) where they celebrated the Last Supper with the Lord Jesus Christ before he was arrested, accused and put to death by the authorities and those in powerful positions.  But God the Father did not allow his Son to remain in the dark places of the dead, He brought him back to life and he resurrected after three days.  This was happened to fulfill what was written in the Scripture.  “Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’.” (John 20: 19).  Jesus loved his own.  He cannot deny nor abandon his friends in spite of leaving him alone.  He can no longer remain hiding himself to his disciples for he cares for them.  He was worrying too much to his disciples for they were enveloped with fear – dread, anxiety, distress, panic, alarm and above all afraid to the foreseen events that might happen to them.  When suddenly out of nowhere, Jesus appeared and stood right in front of them in their midst.  He also guaranteed them by saying “Peace be with you (all).”  What he meant, as if he was saying to them, “I forgive you for what you have not done, to be with me until the end.”  “Peace be with you,” as if he was saying to them not to be afraid from those who would kill you, for I already conquered death.  Past is past, forget the past, let us begin anew.  You will be my disciples throughout the whole world. 

To prove his appearance as alive and not a ghost, he showed the wounds in his hands and in his side, after saying “Peace be with you.”  “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20: 20).   When they realized that it was Jesus, truly alive, the disciples rejoiced and gladdened.  Their fear was gone and replaced with confidence and courage and strength to face the reality of life and death.  Now, they are ready to become truly disciples of Christ Jesus.  “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you’.” (John 20: 21).  Now, the disciples after commissioning are ready to proclaim the good news of salvation on behalf and in the name of Jesus Christ, with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  They will announce the repentance for the forgiveness of sins, the commandments of love to God and ones neighbors, and the Reign-Kingdom of God of love, peace, harmony, justice, and integrity of creations.  In order to do and proclaim all of these things, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’.” (John 20: 22-23). Jesus gave the breath of the Holy Spirit.  This Holy Spirit is the “Ruakh” that hovered on the surface of the water before the creation of the world (cf. Genesis 1: 1-2).  This same Holy Spirit guided the prophets of old and will continue to lead his disciples and us in living the faith in the resurrected Jesus Christ and in the love of the Father.  This coming of the Holy Spirit we refer to the Pentecost or fifty days after the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ.  

This Pentecost, on the one hand, is also celebrated on the 50th day after the weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:15), it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. Some Christians believe this event represents the birth of the Catholic Church.  In Eastern Christianity, Pentecost can also refer to the entire fifty days of Passover through Pentecost inclusive; hence the book containing the liturgical texts for Paschaltide is called the "Pentecostarion."  The term Pentecost comes from the Greek Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) meaning "fiftieth" (50th). It refers to the festival celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover, also known as the "Feast of Weeks" and the "Feast of 50 days" in rabbinic tradition.  On the other hand, the Septuagint uses the term Pentēkostē to refer to the "Feast of Pentecost" only twice, in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit and 2 Maccabees.  The Septuagint writers also used the word in two other senses: to signify the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10), an event which occurs every 50th year, and in several passages of chronology as an ordinal number.  The term has also been used in the literature of Hellenistic Judaism by Philo of Alexandria and Josephus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost).  Pentecost, also called Whitsunday, (Pentecost from Greek pentecostē, “50th day”), major festival in the Christian church, celebrated on the Sunday that falls on the 50th day of Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ (Acts of the Apostles, ch. 2), and it marks the beginning of the Christian church’s mission to the world (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pentecost-Christianity).

The Holy Spirit is also a gift from our Lord Jesus Christ who ascended into heaven to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God.  This Holy Spirit is the promised to be sent to us when Jesus went back from where he came from to be our companion.  The Holy Spirit is the pledged by Jesus to be sent to each one of us as his sign of his presence in our lives and ministries, that is why we can make good and honest decisions with the help of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16: 7).  This Holy Spirit gives us “different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces them in everyone” (1 Cor. 12: 4-6).  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22, 23, 25).  We believe that the Holy Spirit is our strength in the face of many trials, confusions and problems in life.  We can stand the “mga unos ng buhay” (storms in life) and struggles with the assistance of the Holy Spirit.  With the Holy Spirit we cannot do wrong, but rather he will enlighten our hearts, minds, body and soul/spirit.  And we can say, “Lord, send out your spirit, and renew the face of the earth” (Ps. 104).