Receive The Holy Spirit!

Weekly Missionary Reflection
Sunday, 28 May 2023
Solemnity Of The Pentecost
Act. 2:1-11; Ps. 104:1ab,24ac,29c-30,31,34; 1Cor. 12: 3b-7.12-13; Joh. 20:19-23

Pentecost in the Liturgical Calendar marks the end of the Easter season. We might be familiar with the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles as in the first reading. I personally feel that the story is truly meaningful and very interesting for pondering. To my opinion, the Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is not a commemoration of the past event. Pentecost can always happen and be experienced till today. The Holy Spirit will always be poured on us. However, how far do we realize Her presence in our lives?

When I was studying at STF Driyarkara in Jakarta, a Franciscan priest who was our lecturer asked a question, ”Do our prayers have the Trinitarian nuance?” Do we say God Father, Jesus – God’s Son, and God’s Holy Spirit in our prayers? This question makes me realize that my prayers almost do not mention the role of the Holy Spirit. Whereas in today’s scripture reading, it’s clear that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles marks the beginning of the unity of God’s people; the beginning of the Church.

“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21). Those are the words spoken by Jesus to His disciples who gathered in the upper room, and then Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Through this story, we are asked to ponder our roles, the members of the Church, and reconciliation (rapprochement). Sins have broken up the relationship between humanity and God, humans, and His creations. However, for His great love, in human history, those broken relationships were restored.

The entire contents of the Scriptures, the stories of the prophets, and the mysteries of Jesus Christ are the series of that reconciliation.  And now, through the Holy Spirit poured on us, the mystery of God’s salvation will always happen. Brothers and sisters, let’s humbly surrender ourselves, our ego, to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and we try to follow Her guidance. By doing this, our presence as an individual or part of a community truly brings peace and forgiveness in the midst of this world full of hatred, suffering, and uncertainty. God bless.

(Br. Kornelius Glossanto, SX – Xaverian Missionary)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:

For church movements and groups
We pray that Church movements and groups may rediscover their mission of evangelization each day, placing their own charisms at the service of needs in the world.

For the wisdom of Mary
We pray that the mothers and women be willing to imitate Mother Mary, to be patient, wise, willing to sacrifice, and believe that the Lord will make the impossible possible for the life of their children and society.

Amen