REFLECTION

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.”

John 20: 19-23

The fire that was ignited in the hearts of those who experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that first Pentecost has continued to illuminate the world until now. 

 The effects of that Holy Spirit’s presence in the hearts and lives of people down

 through the ages have been revealed in a multitude of ways.  (Like replacing 

someone’s footy card album for example!) “There are different kinds of spiritual

 gifts but the same Spirit,” St. Paul says.

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, we pray that we may all learn to recognise God’s Holy Spirit moving within our community in the kindness and love of others. Amen