Pentecost Sunday

Text: Acts 2:1-11

I Cor. 12:4-13

John 20:19-23

Central Idea: "The Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes."

"One Body, One Spirit"

Bro. Greg Baricar

Before coming to church this morning, are you aware that today is the Pentecost Sunday? On the other hand, some of you may just know it now. I can see smiling faces while some hide their faces. Why? Most of us need to know our church liturgical calendar so that you will feel and experience the essence or the importance of our worship.

What have you noticed in our altar when you entered our church this morning? Last Sunday if you have attended one of our masses and until yesterday, the color of our vestments was white and now it is red. The change of the color into red signifies that our church is celebrating a feast or a great feast.

Today, in many Christian churches, the Pentecost Sunday is celebrated to acknowledge the gift of the Holy Spirit, realizing that God's very life, breath and energy lives in each one of us. The gospel of John as found on Chapter 20, verses 19-23 is the focal point of the message about our risen Savior supernaturally appearing to the fear-burdened disciples. Their fear turned to joy when the Lord showed them His hands and wounded side. He assured the disciples his peace and repeated the command given in Matthew 28:19-20 saying; "as the Father has sent me, I am sending you". Then He breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-23).

The celebration of Pentecost Sunday reminds us of the reality that we are all God-breathed with the unifying Spirit that was poured out upon the First Church in Acts 2:1-4 (First Reading). It is a reminder that we are part of and with Christ; to suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him. The manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good in 1 Corinthians 12:7. We are all baptized by one Spirit into one body as written in 1 Corinthians 12:13 (Second Reading).

Pentecost is also the feast of the Spirit. This morning, we will experience the Spirit in various ways- in a form of wind, fire, light and may be in a vapor. We will be receiving the gift of the Spirit in many features- speaking in tongues, healing, singing, dancing and praising the Lord just to name a few.

A man may have perfect vision, yet in spiritual aspect, he cannot simply see his surroundings. Worse, he cannot see the hand in front of his face, especially when the hand belongs to Christ.

Spiritually blind people often have no idea that they are heeding towards a wrong direction. These people are living in selfish desires and motives, thinking they have the absolute power from the rest.

However, time will soon end up for these people when they have nowhere else to turn to, when they are completely desperate and searching for answers. We pray that the Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes for us to know him more and live with Him, for Him and in Him. (1 Cor. 2:10).

A very concrete example from our society today, is Mr. Jun Lozada. He was an eye-opener for those who tried to close their eyes and voice for those who kept their ears close to reality. It was worth listening to his personal convictions and reflections on his plight. A man with courage and faith that stood for the sake of truth.

I could consider him as 'the man of the hour'. A man that would bring forth a radical change in our society. He may not be righteous, yet he has a determined heart and fervent faith to pursue the goodness he dreamed for the sake of the Filipino people.

Indeed, he is right that the change must start in us. Graft and corruption may not be totally eradicated in our society, if every citizen were 'trustworthy' in their lives. Further, he stresses that 'if all of us are just trustworthy, we will no longer have graft and corruption'. He was challenging not only the youth but also as well as the rest of the citizenry to be trustworthy.

Mr. Lozada is the light of Christ, a bright light that shines the Filipino people and open the spiritual eyes in order to see the reality and to be able seek the truth and justice. We need more people like Mr. Lozada to have more light that would shines as we continue to support his crusade.

It is just as important to the Lord when we suddenly receive our vision in an area in which we were once spiritually blind. As we continue our prayerful life, let us not forget to include in our prayers to those spiritually blind people and offer the light of Christ to them.

To end up my Reflection this morning, I would like to request everybody to stand up and we will bow down our heads as we offer our prayers:

Pentecost Prayer

Spirit of Christ, stir me;
Spirit of Christ, move me;
Spirit of Christ, fill me;
Spirit of Christ, seal me.
Consecrate in me Your Heart and Will, O Heavenly Father.
Create in me a fountain of virtues.
Seal my soul as Your own, that Your reflection in me may be a light for all to see.
Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

chris ablon
GOD BLESS!

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