This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Pentecost- the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus which birthed the Christian Church. Below are some remarks by Pope Francis on this event:
“The Holy Spirit is the soul of mission. The events that took place in Jerusalem almost two thousand years ago are not something far removed from us; they are events that affect us and become a lived experience in each of us. The Pentecost of the upper room in Jerusalem is the beginning, a beginning which endures.
The Holy Spirit is the supreme gift of the Risen Christ to his apostles, yet he wants that gift to reach everyone. As we hear in the Gospel, Jesus says: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to remain with you forever” (cf John 14:16). It is the Paraclete Spirit, the “Comforter”, who grants us the courage to take to the streets of the world, bringing the gospel!. The Holy Spirit makes us look to the horizon and drives us to the very outskirts of existence in order to proclaim life in Jesus Christ.
Let us ask ourselves: do we tend to stay closed in on ourselves, on our group, or do we let the Holy Spirit open us to mission?”
Happy Birthday, Church!!