These reflections on the Spirit's actions in our lives invite us to prayerful considerations:
Pentecost represents the birth of God's global covenant people -- the Church. (Pheme Perkins)
The Holy Spirit prepares the whole messianic mission of Christ and ushers in a new beginning. (St. John Paul II)
Pentecost calls us to take our response to God's call down to the next level; down deep inside of me to where my truest self lives. (Bishop Ken Untener)
Pentecost is the hour the Church found its courage. (Alice Camille)
Pentecost has often been described as the birthday of the church. Perhaps it might be more accurate to refer to Pentecost as the celebration of the Spirit, who, like a midwife, tends carefully to the birth of the community of believers. The Spirit is there to assist as the church labors to witness to God's truth, justice, peace and love. There to encourage when the going become difficult. There to comfort and strengthen when weakness sets in and quitting looks tempting. There to remind the community of its commitment to support and protect life, all life, from the womb to the tomb. There to challenge the community to rise above its smallness. There to draw the attention of the community to the needs of God's poor ones. There to breathe and pray within every one of God's own. There to keep all eyes on the goal of preaching the good news to all without exception and without stinting. There to light a fire in the belly of those who have grown weary and disillusioned. There to heighten the sensitivities of the well-off and worry-free toward the plight of the lost and the wounded. There to shed light in the darkness. There to be the love that empowers all we are, all we do, all we become. Like a great and holy enabler, it is the Spirit who aids us in interpreting who Jesus is and who empowers us to follow in Jesus' ways. (Patricia Sanchez)
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