Sunday, May 20, 2018 Pentecost Sunday 1st Reading: Acts 2:1-11 2nd Reading: Corinthians 12:3-7.12-13. Gospel: John 20:19-23.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.(Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
Passover was one of the important feasts of the Jews. It commemorated the night that the Angel of Death ravaged all families of Egypt killing their firstborn to punish Pharaoh. Pharaoh had refused to allow the chosen people to leave Egypt and settle in the Promised Land. The families of the Jews were spared because they marked their doors with blood of an unblemished lamb. Seeing this mark the Angel of Death would just “pass over” their houses. Hence, the name Passover Feast.
Seven weeks after this great commemoration, the Jews feasted again on a celebration they called the Day of First Fruits. On this day they also commemorated the promulgation of the Law on Mount Sinai.
Christians continued this celebration but no longer to commemorate the old law given at Mount Sinai to Moses but to celebrate the new Commandment of Love. Out of this great love Jesus promised the Holy Spirit before he left on Ascension Day so that we will have an advocate in our midst. Because of this Christians also celebrated on this Day the Feast of the coming of the Holy Spirit. This celebration has come down to our time as the feast of the Pentecost. Pentecost comes from the Greek word “fiftieth”. The day falls seven weeks (49 days) after the Passover.
The Jews understood advocate as referring to someone who pleaded for them in court. The Jews who were ignorant of the Roman law often employed a Roman Advocate to defend them in the Roman courts. The Holy Spirit is given to us to guide us because we are all ignorant about the laws of God. Jesus’ love for us is an invitation to live the life of holiness. St. Paul wrote to the Romans that those walking according to the flesh could not please God (Rom. 8:8-17). We are still at the mercy of concupiscence that blinds us from seeing the right path to tread. But St. Paul assures us that if we put up a fight we can win against the flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit. –(Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
May comment ka ba sa column ni Father Dan? May tanong ka ba sa kanya?
I-type ang BANDERA REACT
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Bandera. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.