The Feast of Pentecost | Sunday 19 May 2024

Today is Sunday 19th May, the feast of Pentecost, beginning the 7th week of Ordinary Time.

The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing:

This is the time, most Holy Spirit, when you, One with the Father and the Son,
come to shed your light in the hearts of your faithful.

Pause for a moment, and become aware of the Holy Spirit, present here, come to give life and light. Pause for a moment, and welcome that light into your life.

(Lyrics currently unavailable)

Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 2:1-11

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.


Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’"

Instead of repeating the scripture today, we will pray through it a little bit at a time throughout our reflection.

We hear that all the disciples were gathered into one place… how do you think they were during that time? What do you think they were saying to one another?

"And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them."

A sound like a violent wind, fire like divided tongues. How do you think they or you would have reacted on witnessing that?

"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability."

The sound and the fire have gone, but something has changed. What do you think is going on in the room, in their hearts?

"Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?"

Imagine you in the scene, in the crowd or a bystander. What do you notice? What can you hear? What are you thinking when you experience this?

Take time to talk with Jesus about where your heart has been this week and what you would like the Spirit to kindle in your heart for next week.


Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. Amen