Newsletter May 31st 2020 ( Pentecost)

A thought on todays readings

· Paul is saying that wherever we find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control, the Spirit is there at work. The Spirit becomes visible in and through these qualities and virtues. The person who most of all had those qualities was Jesus because he was full of the Holy Spirit, full of the life of God.

· In his letter to the Romans he has the wonderful statement, ‘God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us’. He also indicates in today’s 2nd Reading (1 Cor) that the Spirit is at work in our lives, to make us more like Jesus. The good things people do are all manifestations of the Spirit of God. The spiritual is not something other-worldly; it is humanity at its best.

· In the Pentecost story, humanity appears at its best, united and sharing in wisdom. Pentecost brought about a wonderful bonding of people from all over the Roman Empire. They were united in admiring and praising the marvels of God. In spite of differences of language and culture there was a real communion among them. Wherever communion of heart and mind exist among people of different backgrounds, the Holy Spirit is at work. Unity in diversity is the mark of the Spirit.

· Jesus points out another manifestation of the Spirit: the pursuit of truth. Only the Spirit can lead us to the complete truth. If someone is genuinely seeking for truth, and willing to engage in good works with others, there the Spirit is at work. Fullness of truth and love is always beyond us; but the Spirit is given to lead us towards the complete truth and love, in all its height and depth.