Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 20, 19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “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.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
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.”
Pentecost
1. Locked. Fear can cause you to isolate yourself from others and even from your own feelings. On this day, seek the Holy Spirit’s help to become open—to yourself and those around you—and to break free from your own rigid ways. Let’s also pray for the Church that we might learn to listen sincerely to those who think differently or are critical of us. May we discern how to meet the challenges of new times, instead of forcing them into old institutional or pastoral frameworks.
2. Peace. Peace is essential in your life—it’s the foundation for truly living. Without inner peace, nothing can be accomplished. As the Easter season concludes today, let this be a reminder to embrace ordinary, everyday life and live it in an extraordinary way. Allow yourself to find joy in something each day. Let go of regrets and move beyond the past. Accept your reality and boldly face the remainder of this year.
3. The gifts. Today, ask God for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:
Understanding: To recognize the path your life is taking and to deepen your grasp of faith.
Counsel: To be able to listen and remain open to others, and to discern the right course of action
in the light of God’s will.
Knowledge (Science): To see life’s circumstances from God’s perspective and to gain clarity for making decisions.
Fortitude: To remain strong when facing any challenges that come your way.
Piety: To see God in all you do and in every person you encounter, and to love and worship God as your Father.
Wisdom: To truly “savor” life and understand what lies ahead of you, seeing things with God’s perspective.
Fear of the Lord: To respect God’s greatness deeply and to respect all things and people, understanding what God wants you to offer to others’ lives.
May God’s Spirit live in you and in the Church, so together we can help create a world filled with peace and kinship. Amen.
Happy and blessed Pentecost! Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
