May 28
Pentecost Sunday
“Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
Readings
Reflections
Why is Pentecost theologically significant?
The account of the bestowal of the Spirit upon the disciples occurs on the first day of the week, as does the resurrection of Jesus. This is theologically significant because both events speak of God’s loving care for us, namely, that God makes straight the path for us to enter into the heavenly kingdom through the resurrection of Jesus and the gift of the Paraclete, the Advocate, the Spirit, that sanctifies and strengthens us for our journey in this life. The significance of the timing of the coming of the Spirit does not end there, however.
The fact that these events take place on Sunday, the first day of the week, is also theologically significant because it signals a change of focus of the Sabbath day from Saturday, to Sunday. God sees the first day of the week as a new beginning for the faithful. We are part of that new beginning because with the coming of the Spirit, God forms the Church on Earth. Peter is its rock and foundation. The coming of the Holy Spirit and its image breathing life into another reminds believers of the creation of the world. The coming of the Spirit breathes life into all of us.
As we conclude the Easter Season with the celebration of Pentecost, let us take the lessons we have learned throughout the Lenten and Easter Seasons and together with the Holy Spirit, go forth to live out the Word of God in new and ever more meaningful ways within the Church!
Peace,
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