To print, click on the settings button located in this upper right corner ⇑

Rome (Italy), Sr. Beatriz Elena García Santa, May 19th, 2024.- Only love transforms.

READING

From the book of Acts of the apostles 2, 1-11

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves.

Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, and each one was bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. 'Surely,' they said, 'all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language?

Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; residents of Rome, - Jews and proselytes alike -- Cretans and Arabs, we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.

STUDYOF THE TEXT

Pentecost was the Jewish holiday that remembered the Sinai Law's gift; it marked the Israel people's identity, a way of remaining faithful in their relationship with God. However, now there is a new law, the law of love that synthesizes all other statutes and seeks its place in every human being's heart. Jesus had promised his disciples that he would not leave them alone and that he would send the Holy Spirit. (Cf. Jn 14, 16.26). Luke recounts the fulfillment of this promise fifty days after the Passover. In the cenacle, the disciples are gathered, and the text speaks of phenomena: noises, wind, fire, and images that the sacred author uses to narrate God's manifestations.

MEDITATION

Pentecost is the time of a new language.

The Acts of the Apostles describe the Pentecost's events to us, first of all with external signs: it is a roar, wind, fire, it has no borders, it cannot be contained, it is those signs perceptible by hearing, sight, that finally reveals to us a more profound reality "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit," but what does this mean? We could say that they had an experience of God's love, which enveloped them, flooded them, and transformed them because "the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Rom 5,5)

And what is the Effect? The first effect is to feel loved, and that implies a new beginning, a new way of communicating with God and with our brothers and sisters, a new language that we can all understand: that of love unity, where God is in the center. As a consequence, events are looked at from another perspective because love never leaves things as they are; it moves, transforms, and completes life.

Pentecost is the time of communion.

The community is the privileged place where you can experience the presence of the Risen Lord. The Spirit is love, and his fruit is unity. The Church of Communion does not exclude; it leads to overcoming divisions. If in Babel, men did not understand because of their pride and the search for their own priority, at Pentecost, the Spirit makes a new encounter with God and others possible, as long as we let him act.

Pentecost is the time of testimony.

This is a new time, the time of responsibility, of taking charge of one's own life of faith, of working for a new way of relationship; it is the time of listening because God has not stopped speaking to humanity, and just as for the apostles it meant embarking on a new path, the Spirit also encourages us to build communities where together we seek the common good, where we can feel like sisters. We can ask ourselves:

• Where do I recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit at this moment in my life?
• What can I contribute to my community so the Risen One can be present?

PRAYER

Come, Holy Spirit, send us a ray of your light from heaven so we may always praise and give you thanks. Stay with us, comfort us with your power, warm us with the fire of your love, and make us builders of unity.

CONTEMPLATION

Holy Spirit fills the universe and transforms my life.