Sunday 28 May
Pentecost First reading - Acts 2:1-11 “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech”. This is the moment of Pentecost. The feast of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The feast of being taken over by the Holy Spirit. The feast of being emptied out of everything except the Holy Spirit. The feast of receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The feast of Holy Spirit taking control of our life, our words, and our actions. The feast of we becoming instruments to preach the marvels of God. The feast of we becoming capable to speak a language that the other can understand. We becoming the language of God. This is also seen in the appearances of the Pentecost event. “When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them”. United in one room. The unity is seen. The noise filling the entire house. Tongues of fire rest on the head of each of them. As they are becoming the tongues to praise the marvels of God, the God News. Let’s reflect: Am I becoming the language of the marvels of God with the Holy Spirit I received?
Saturday 27 May
Saturday of the 7th week of Eastertide Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop First reading - Acts 28:16-20,30-31 Paul was in chain for two years in Rome. He did not lament. He did not criticize. He was not disappointed. So, what was he doing? “He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone”. In his chains, he welcomed all who came to visit him. Even in pains, he welcomed everyone. No exceptions. Not only that he welcomed everyone, but also, he proclaimed the kingdom of God and even taught the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ. Because is it the hope of Israel. Because it’s the hope of the whole world. He did it as we read, with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone. He had his inner freedom, and nobody hindered him too. So, in chains, in pains, in disappointments, in discouragements, there is an option. The option of Paul: to welcome everyone and to teach the truth of Jesus Christ in complete freedom. Let’s reflect: In my pains and disappointments, am I opting to welcome everyone and to preach the truth of Gospel as Paul did?
Friday 26 May
on Friday of the 7th week of Eastertide Saint Philip Neri, Priest First reading - Acts 25:13-21 In this episode we find King Agrippa is little bit confused about the case of Paul. But Paul is very clear about his demands. This is the difference between persons led by mere civils laws and procedures and persons led by diving inspiration. Anything which does not fall in the framework we have learnt, put us in confusion. We don’t understand because we don’t find references about in the books we have read. There is no mentioning about it in the information we received. So, we feel confusion which results in lots of questions. But for a person who is led by faith, everything fit in to his or her logic. There is space for all eventualities in our life. Faith gives meaning and answers to the unexpected events in our life. They don’t pose questions but gives answers of faith. Let’s reflect: Do I feel confused about the events in my life, or I see them in the light of faith?
Thursday 25 May
Thursday of the 7th week of Eastertide or Saint Gregory VII, Pope or Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi, Virgin or Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest, Doctor First reading - Acts 22:30,23:6-11 “Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome”. In night the Lord appears and says, ‘courage’. When night comes in our lives, Lord appears. The night comes with challenges, with problems, and with complicated situations. And in the face of challenges, with problems and complicated situations, the Lord appears and says, “courage”. It’s about witnessing. The challenges are occasions for witnessing for Jesus. We have the word of the Lord, “courage”. Lord Jesus encourages us. His encouragement is our strength to witness His love, His message, His Person. Let’s reflect: Is the encouragement of Jesus is my strength in witnessing Him?