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BISHOP'S MONTHLY REFLECTION
Pentecost
Diocesan News Letter - October 2004

Dear Fathers, Sisters, Brothers and the Faithful,

This month we will be celebrating the feast of Pentecost. The mystery of the Pentecost can not be separated from the mystery of Ascension and Resurrection. The feast of Resurrection reaches its culmination in the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost is the Birth Day of the Church. Acts of the Apostles help us to understand the meaning of Pentecost. First is how the Church functions by the power of God, the Holy Spirit sent by the Risen Lord. Luke focuses our attention not on a general sort of divine power, but specially on the power of God sent by him who died and rose again. It is the Spirit who brings life out of death.

This is the central message of the preaching of St.Peter on the day of Pentecost: “This Jesus was raised up and that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.” (Acts 2: 32-33).

Hence it is the Holy Spirit of the Risen Saviour who leads the members of the Church to strength in moments of weakness (Acts 4: 13-14); goodness from the situation of wickedness (Acts 6:1-15), joy in situations of sorrows (Acts 5:41-42).

The second aspect of the work of the Spirit is this: Though the Lord Jesus has ascended to the Father, by the Spirit he is still with his disciples. In the teaching of the Apostles, it is Jesus who teaches; in their miracles, it is Jesus who heals: “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, be it known to you, all and to all people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.” (Acts 4:8-12). If any of the members of the church are persecuted it is Jesus who suffers: “Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me.” (Acts 9:4). Hence the Risen Lord is one with all those who follow his way.

Thirdly the power of God, the Holy Spirit enables the disciples to live out the Gospel gladly, generously, boldly leading them through every difficulty from within: the scandal of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) quarrel regarding the Hellenistic widows (6: 1-6), and from without: opposition from the Jews and rulers (Acts (5: 33-39), until the good news spreads throughout the world. “As Paul lived there (Rome) two whole years…. Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly.” (Acts 28: 30-31).

Therefore the feast of the Pentecost invites us to give up all discouragement and despair in life as Jesus has conqurred death and sin and has given us the Spirit of life. Secondly we should have unwavering faith in Risen Saviour who is present and active in our midst through his Spirit. Thirdly we should give up all tendencies of narrow parochialism and become genuinely Catholic in our attitudes and actions.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kaithathara
Bishop of Gwalior

Happy Feast to:

Fr. Maria Francis	04 Oct

 

Happy Ordination Day to:

Let us Remember our Departed Brethern

R