Homily for Pentecost Sunday - 28th May 2023

Homily for Pentecost Sunday

28th May 2023

The first reading is from the Acts telling the story of the Apostles being assembled and the Holy Spirit descending on them like tongues of fire. With many people being in Jerusalem from distant countries at that time they were surprised to hear these Galileans talking in their own language. Who had taught them? Where did they go to learn? These were humble fishermen, tax collectors and locals of this region. Many people were converted to Christianity that day because of what they heard and gave themselves to Jesus, accepting him as their saviour.

The Gospel of John tells of how Jesus appeared to the Apostles shortly after his resurrection and he breathed his Spirit on them, sending them to go out and baptise in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He also told them that whoever sins they forgave, would be forgiven in Heaven and whoever sins they retained would likewise be retained in Heaven. So here is the institution of Confession as a Sacrament. Being commissioned by Jesus to the Apostles.

We may or may not realise it, but time is short, and the harvest is ready but there are few workers to bring in the harvest. Yet, those who confess Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, repent their sins, and are baptised have nothing to fear. They are saved and will receive what Jesus has promised as there are many rooms in God’s House.

Only those who chose to totally reject him will be judged. They have rejected his call and refused to recognise who Jesus is. They have chosen their own course declaring they know best and yet what they do only leads to disaster. They have also not recognised how they have been misled by Satan who they think is just an idea and not a real person. He has hidden himself from them.

In a BBC News article, the journalist visited a hotel in Boston, USA, to write a piece about the Satanic Temple. Many were performing rituals that were designed to undo what we hold dear in the Catholic Church. Some were trying to be unbaptised, without realising that Baptism places an indelible mark upon the recipient that cannot be removed.

The National Catholic Register said the rituals were “nothing more than a grotesque parodying of religious rituals and symbols”. The Archdiocese of Boston encouraged Catholics to say, St Michael, the Archangel Prayer. Many Priests encouraged the Rosary to be said regularly.

Many attending the gathering thought what they were doing was just for a laugh, not believing in what they were doing. The journalist interviews a guy in his 30s who believes the organisation aligns with his own beliefs in “bodily autonomy, compassion, respect, science, and those who think differently who feel cast out. His words finish the article, where he states, “I don’t believe he (Satan) actually exits”. They have been deceived and will be judged accordingly.

Even those of us who believe ourselves to have been saved still have to keep our focus on Jesus and not become complacent as we could fall into deeper sin. We have to also be careful not to become self-centred but must be on our guard. We must keep on praying and use prayer as part of our defence and to keep on confessing when we fall into sin, in order to remain in God’s Grace.

In the commentary for the 60th day of readings, in “Every day with Jesus”, Selwyn Hughes references the pieces of Christian Armour Ephesians 6:14-15 mentions, which includes a belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, sandals for your feet in readiness for the gospel, a shield of faith, a helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. These are the defences we are equipped with to guard against the enemy’s attacks.

What we are asked to do is help those less fortunate than ourselves. Remember not to judge others, or else the rules we use to criticise others will be used to highlight our own faults, like a double edge sword. We need to be humble, pray to Our Lord and help others in need as much as we can. We must remain truthful as the truth will set us free, anything else will lead us into sin, especially “pride” if we think we are higher than others.

Jesus told his disciples not to lord it over others. Those who wanted to be in high places had to humble themselves to serve others. In this way we will build a community that can trust one another, knowing each will be treated fairly. But we all need to reach out to receive the Holy Spirit who will teach us all how to spread Our Lord’s Gospel and to gather in the harvest now it is ripe.

We are the servants of the Lord. At the end of Mass, we are told to go out in peace to love and serve the Lord. To be his witnesses, without fear and to trust the Holy Spirit will be our guide to bring more people into the presence of Our Lord and Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

https://www.ncregister.com/cna/call-to-intense-prayer-boston-archdiocese-responds-to-satanic-temple-s-convention

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65549975

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