Pentecost Sunday

May 11, 2008

Readings

Acts 2:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13

John 20:19-23

Calendar

May 11: Pentecost

May 15: International Day of Families

Quotes

The Church herself will never cease putting questions,
trusting in the help of the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth.

John Paul II

Nothing
here below is profane for those who know how to see.

On
the contrary, everything is sacred.

~ Teilhard de Chardin

Globalization has humanity poised
between two poles. On the one hand, there is a growing sense of
interconnectedness and interdependency between peoples even when -
geographically and culturally speaking - they are far apart. This new situation
offers the potential for enhancing a sense of global solidarity and shared
responsibility for the well-being of mankind. On the other hand, we cannot deny
that the rapid changes occurring in our world also present some disturbing
signs of fragmentation and a retreat into individualism. .... a faithful witness
to the Gospel is as urgent as ever. Christians are challenged to give a clear
account of the hope that they hold (cf. 1 Pet 3:15).

Benedict
XVI, 18 April 2008,
New York City

May Christ inflame the desires of all people to break through the
barriers which divide them, to strengthen the bonds of mutual love, to learn to
understand one another, and to pardon those who have done them wrong. Through
Christ's power and inspiration may all peoples welcome each other to their
hearts as brothers and sisters, and may the peace they long for ever flower and
ever reign among them.

John XXIII, Pacem in Terris 171

Finding one's own voice, however, haltingly, imparts the power of
the Spirit crying out. The boldness to hear the claim of conscience and follow
its deep impulses even in the face of loss; the courage to taste righteous
anger and allow it to motivate critical resistance to evil; the willingness to
utter the prophetic word - these occurrences inscribe the movement of the
Spirit's compassion into the ambiguity of the world. 

Elizabeth Johnson
CSJ, She Who Is, 126

Thoughts for your consideration

Today, as we celebrate the
power of the Spirit in the church, the scriptures remind us that the Spirit is
a social Spirit - a Spirit that leads us to a certain solidarity with each
other, the whole world, and all its people. 
The Spirit does more than make individuals feel good or different. The
Spirit changes behavior and moves us into community. 

The coming of the Spirit
transformed the early Christian community.

Locked doors were opened.

Fear was replaced by courage.

Peace was proclaimed.

The power to forgive sins was present.

Those who were afraid spoke boldly.

Thousands heard the message in their own language.

The coming of the Spirit
today is reflected in our social values.

            In a world of racism and xenophobia,

                        the Spirit speaks to people of every nation
under heaven.

            In a world of fear and doubt,

                        the Spirit inspires people to open doors and
to speak out.

            In a world of selfishness, competition, and control,

                        the Spirit gives out gifts that are shared
for the benefit of all.

            In a world were do many people lack basic freedoms,

                        the Spirit invites us to work for honesty and
freedom for all.

In a world with war and violence,

                        the Spirit proclaims a message of peace to
all.

            In a world of with great wealth and affluence,

                        the Spirit calls us again to a special
concern for the poor.

The gifts of the Spirit are
for liberation.  We might say that the
Spirit is an inclusive spirit who desires to set everyone free. 

Maybe the greatest
manifestation of the spirit is when people have the grace to identify with the
needs and struggles of the world, to listen to those who are poor or oppressed,
and to speak up for justice. As the theologian Elizabeth Johnson says above: "Finding
one's own voice, however, haltingly, imparts the power of Spirit crying out."

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group

When
have you had the ability or the courage to speak up in a difficult
situation? 

What
happened? What were the results?  What
did you learn?

Actions - Links

Sojourners, www.sojo.net,
is a Christian ministry whose mission is to proclaim and practice the biblical
call to integrate spiritual renewal and social justice.   Their web site has a section called Faith in
Action which allows one to take action online concerning an action of social
justice.  Go to:

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.home

"Crazy Facts"

Freedom House, an organization that traces its
history back to Eleanor Roosevelt in 1941, is a source of information on the
state of freedom around the globe.  At
present they report that for 194 nations, 73 have a free press, 54 have a
partial free press, and 67 have no freedom of press.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=274

Prayers of
Intercession

Response:  Come, Holy Spirit.

For the willingness to take time to listen to
and learn from others who are in need, we pray....

For the gift to speak up on issues of justice
and peace, we pray....

For the wisdom to discern the end to the war
in Iraq,
we pray....

For the perseverance needed to keep working
for affordable health care for all, we pray....

For transparency and integrity in all our
governments and in all our public officials, we pray

For the guidance of the spirit as our
election year moves forward, we pray....

For the strength to always work together for
the common good of all, we pray....

Prayer

From Blessed John XXIII:

"O Holy Spirit, Paraclete, perfect in us the
work begun by Jesus:  enable us to continue to pray fervently in the name
of the whole world:  hasten in everyone of us the growth of a profound
interior life; give vigor to our apostolate so that it may reach all men and
all peoples, all redeemed by the Blood of Christ and all belonging to him.
Mortify in us our natural pride, and raise us to the realms of holy humility,
of real fear of God, of generous courage. Let no earthly bond prevent us from
honoring our vocation, no cowardly considerations disturb the claims of
justice, no meanness confine the immensity of charity within the narrow bounds
of petty selfishness. Let everything in us be on a grand scale:  the
search for truth and the devotion to it, and readiness for self-sacrifice, even
to the cross and death; and may everything finally be according to the last
prayer of the Son to his heavenly Father, and according to the pouring out of
your Spirit, O Holy Spirit of love, whom the Father and the Son desired to be
poured out over the Church and her institutions, over the souls of men and of
nations."

(Discorsi
Messaggi Colloqui, cit., IV, p. 350).