Gospel Reflection 2020/2021

As the stricter Movement Control Order (MCO) is looming, we can somewhat feel what the disciples must have felt – that crippling fear of fate and future – as they sought refuge in the Upper Room after the horrific death of Jesus.

Like the disciples, we too feel disappointed, disillusioned, depressed, distressed and defeated: where is God in the midst of this great human suffering? In anguish, we cannot help but lament and cry out [Ps 22: 1], “My God, my God, why have You forsaken us? Why are You so far from helping us, from the words of our groaning?”

Despite all is dark, gloomy, hopeless and helpless, Albert Einstein told us that in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity’. The same is true for our Christian faith: 'in the midst of every crisis, CHRIST IS'.

(1) Jesus is in our midst.

This Pentecost Sunday, the Gospel passage beautifully describes how Jesus comes to His disciples after His glorious Resurrection: the doors are locked, the disciples are hiding in fear; Jesus comes and stands in their midst.

Notice how Jesus comes to us: Jesus does not crash open the doors, bulldozes the walls, or tear down the house; instead, He comes into our midst – gently, unexpectedly, unassumingly, and in non-threatening way. Even when the door of our heart is tightly sealed, the walls of our heart hardened, and the stronghold of our heart fortified, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ. [cf. Rm 8: 38-39] – His redeeming and transforming love can penetrate even the most secure vault.

Yes, Jesus is never far from us; He is already in our midst and in our hearts. He is Emmanuel, God-with-us. Only by seeing through the eyes of faith and listening with the ears of our heart, will we be able to experience deeply His active presence in our life.

(2) Jesus comes to us with power and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus breathes on His disciples and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Yes, the Holy Spirit can come like a powerful roaring wind as in the First Reading [Ac 2: 1-11]. But more often than not, the Spirit comes to us as gentle as a breeze, as insignificant as a breath and as ordinary as the air we inhale. Gentle, insignificant and ordinary He may seem, but the Holy Spirit empowers, enlightens, enlivens and emboldens the Church and every individual believer. The Holy Spirit overcomes fear: Christ has not given us a spirit of fear, timidity, or cowardice, but rather a Spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. [cf. 2 Tm 1: 7]

God is Love [1 Jn 4: 7, 16].

And there is no fear in Love [1 Jn 4: 18].

The Holy Spirit is Love-in-action. He unites us in the ONE Holy Catholic Church and makes us living members of this ONE Body in Christ. We are empowered with the Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit (i.e. wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord) to love and to serve, and to build up the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit fires us up to be the bold witnesses of Christ to the whole world.

On Pentecost Sunday, we are also celebrating the Birthday of the Catholic Church. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Church was born; and this same Spirit will guide the Church into all the truth [Jn 16: 13]. Moved by the Holy Spirit, may we receive new vigour and new life in living Church and being Church through communication, collaboration and communion.

Let our fervent prayer be:

“Send forth Your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.”