Mary, Holy Mother of God (1st January 2023)

Reflection

The Gift of the World

Today, the Church celebrates Pentecost Sunday, a very special day for Christians. We honour this day with great solemnity and festivity. Unfortunately, for two years in a row, we could not properly celebrate this wonderful feast. A year ago, nobody could have imagined what we would experience daily due to Covid-19. This unexpected pandemic has thrown us into an unwelcome ‘new normal’, drastically re-shaping our ordinary lives. For those struggling at society’s margins, its impacts are devastating. As the darkness has gradually engulfed lives, it has become more evident that life has changed into something far different from the normal we remember.

The biblical witnesses show us that the most robust hope emerges out of times of traumatic suffering. The Acts of the Apostles and John’s Gospel today is a good example of a biblical witness when the Spirit came amidst painful reality. The story of Pentecost in both readings pictures the Spirit animating the disciples who have been “cocooning” behind closed doors in the Upper Room, empowering them not only to talk in a variety of languages, but also to continue the vocation of Jesus in increasingly wider fields of ministry. Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me so I send you. (Jn 20:21).