Saints + Scripture: Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday

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'Tis the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday: Pentecost-link, Wikipedia-link Pentecost, & Wikipedia-link Whitsun.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Churches throughout the world celebrate this day whether by the Jewish faith of Christian faith, Pentecost is a day of the new spirit, a day of new beginning.

Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

Come, Holy Spirit! Descend upon me & inflame my heart with Your love. As You are the Love between the Father & the Son, so now be the Love that unites me with Them.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday: Mass during the Day
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter two, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Four, verses one & twenty-four, twenty-nine & thirty, & thirty-one & thirty-four;
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter twelve, verses three(b) thru seven, twelve, & thirteen;
or, the Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses eight thru seventeen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty, verses nineteen thru twenty-three;
or, the Gospel according to John, chapter fourteen, verses fifteen, sixteen, & twenty-three(b) thru twenty-six.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in our Gospel for today, drawn from St. John’s account, Jesus shows his disciples the wounds of his crucifixion, and then he offers them shalom (peace). It is the juxtaposition of the wounds and the shalom that carries power. The wounds alone would leave us afraid, convinced of our sin but not of a way out. The shalom alone would leave us with cheap grace, a too easy way out.

And this is precisely why, immediately after uttering that word and showing those wounds, Jesus sends the disciples on a mission of forgiveness: "Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive men’s sins they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound.’"

The Church receives its essential mission and identity as the bearer of the divine forgiveness. We have been entrusted with speaking the shalom of Jesus to a fallen and hopeless world. But it’s not cheap grace that we share. We participate in Jesus’ mission of showing his wounds as well. The Church refuses to explain sin away or make excuses for it or call it by another name. But when those wounds are revealed, it offers peace.

Reflection by Father Joseph Mary Wolfe, M.F.V.A. (Eternal Word Television Network):

Volumes have been written about the Holy Spirit over the centuries, yet the mystery of this Third Person of the Holy Trinity remains ever fresh and inexhaustible.

In today’s first reading the descent of the Holy Spirit is associated with a rushing wind and tongues of flame. The Spirit “fills” both the house and each person in it. In today’s Gospel, Jesus breathes on the apostles saying “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Yet, Who is this Spirit?

References to the Holy Spirit run through the Scriptures like a rare and beautiful thread, from Genesis 1:2 where the “Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters” through the Old Testament prophets, to the Annunciation, to Jesus’ baptism. From Jesus’ rejection in the Nazareth synagogue to His final discourse at the Last Supper. From the Resurrection and to the day we celebrate today.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes a very interesting statement:

“…the Spirit does not speak of himself. The Spirit who ‘has spoken through the prophets’ makes us hear the Father’s Word, but we do not hear the Spirit himself. We know him only in the movement by which he reveals the Word to us and disposes us to welcome him in faith.” Catechism of the Catholic Church 687.

The Holy Spirit, then, remains “behind the scenes”, moving, inspiring, empowering. He truly is, as the Nicene Creed states “The Lord and Giver of Life Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” Let us adore and glorify Him!

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Mass Readings—Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday: Vigil Mass
I. The Book of Genesis, chapter eleven, verses one thru nine;
Psalm Thirty-three, verses ten & eleven, twelve & thirteen, & fourteen & fifteen;
II. The Book of Exodus, chapter nineteen, verses three thru eight(a) & sixteen thru twenty(b);
The Book of Daniel, chapter three, verses fifty-two, fifty-three, fifty-four, & fifty-five;
or, Psalm Nineteen, verses eight, nine, ten, & eleven;
III. The Book of Ezekiel, chapter thirty-seven, verses one thru fourteen;
Psalm One Hundred Seven, verses two & three, four & five, six & seven, & eight & nine;
IV. The Book of Joel, chapter three, verses one thru five;
Psalm One Hundred Four, verses one & two, twenty-four & thirty-five, twenty-seven & twenty-eight, & twenty-nine & thirty;
V. The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses twenty-two thru twenty-seven;
VI. The Gospel according to John, chapter seven, verses thirty-seven, thirty-eight, & thirty-nine.

Mass Journal: Week 28
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

A man's work may be to collect the trash, but if he does it well, & hour by hour turns to God in his heart & says, Father, I offer You this hour of work as a prayer for my neighbor Karen, who is struggling with cancer… or in thanksgiving for my wife & children, then he has truly discovered & is living the words "pray constantly" (1 Thessalonians, 5:17). He has transformed an hour of work into an hour of prayer. Through his work he has grown in intimacy with God & neighbor, & he has become a-better-version-of-himself. The attitude with which we approach our work is crucial. The transformation of ordinary activities into prayer is the very essence of the inner life. Every activity of our day can lead us to experience God. Learn to foster the interior life in this way & you will live a life uncommon in the midst of common circumstances.

†

Otherwise, 9 June would be the festival of Saint Ephrem, Deacon & Doctor of the Church (circa 306-373, of Syria or the Syrian, the "Harp of the Holy Spirit"): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Columba, Priest & Abbot (521-597, of Iona, the "Apostle to the Picts;" also spelt Colm Cille, Columbkille), one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, founder of Iona Abbey: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Erin & Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Cumianus of Bobbio, Bishop & Abbot (circa 641-736), abbot of the Abbey of Saint Columbanus (A.K.A. Bobbio Abbey): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Robert Salt, Religious & Martyr, O.Cart. (died 1537), martyred in the reign of the English king Henry VIII, one of the Carthusian Martyrs of London: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Martyrs-link Charterhouse & Wikipedia-link Charterhouse.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The spiritual life embraces many efforts, many forms of prayer, the Sacraments, asceticism, many exercises, but the essence is always the same. It is the meeting of the Holy Spirit with the human spirit, the door of the human spirit open to the Divine Spirit."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"One must have passed through the tunnel to understand how black its darkness is."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Now is the time to go to confession. Get rid of your sins. When the priest raises his hand in absolution over you, the blood of Christ is dripping from his fingers."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)