Catholic Identity

Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11

When Pentecost day came round, the apostles had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome - Jews and proselytes alike - Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

Art and Reflection by Jenny Close 

In the readings for the feast of Pentecost there are some interesting connections between fire and water. In the gospel for the Vigil the Spirit is described as 'rivers of living water' flowing out of the hearts of believers. In the Acts of the Apostles the experience of the Spirit was likened to 'tongues of fire'. In liminal moments like this, when natural logic is confounded, the boundaries between seeming opposites are blurred and new meanings emerge.

Reconciliation

Please join us for our Reconciliation Liturgy June 6th, 9:30am at St Joseph’s Church as our students receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation

.