THE SOUND OF TRUTH

Reflection for Pentecost Year A

(Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23)

“When Pentecost day had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind...And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.”

Today we meditate on the beauty of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. The immediate symbol of His coming was a loud sound that filled the house like a rush of wind. It was a sound that shattered the silent cold hand of fear that gripped them. They regained their courage and freedom. Before now they lost their voices through fear of the Jews, now they spoke in different tongues.

The first and immediate manifestation of the gift of the Holy Spirit was the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ. They proclaimed the one message but to different tongues. Now the different people can find their unity in the one Gospel message. The sound of the truth of the gospel is the voice of the Holy Spirit. It is loud and clear, moving us from within to order and unity. Uniformity is false; unity is true. The truth of Christ is instilled in our lives as power and wisdom by the Holy Spirit (cf Jn 14:16-17).

Because what the Holy Spirit teaches is true, it leads to deeper freedom and greater self-discovery. Whatever is not true, in words or action, cannot be of the Holy Spirit, and they diminish us. That is why the Holy Spirit leads us to discover our talents, and empowers us to exercise them to achieve personal authenticity and to enrich the variety of our common humanity. Hence St Paul says in the second reading that the one Spirit inspires variety of service to the one God. The Holy Spirit grows variety to unity, destroying the cold hand of competition among individuals, cultures, etc.

Jesus appeared to His disciples, showed His hands and feet, bestowed His gift of peace, and He sent them forth to proclaim the gospel. Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit...” So the Spirit issues from the Father and the Son. Therefore, anytime we listen to Jesus, meditate on His words, etc, we open our heart to filled by the Holy Spirit.

Veni Sante Spiritus! Come Holy Spirit, we need to hear the great sound of your truth. We need to feel the warmth of your outpouring. Ignite your tongues of fire upon us anew! The cold hand of division is trying to silence our voice to witness to Jesus. See how many families are shattered. The beauty of our individual differences is being covered by competition. Adulterated belief is trying to sweep through the Church. Come Holy Spirit, Come! Your fire cannot be quenched; your sound cannot be silenced! Let this sound of your truth fill every heart and every home that invoke you today. Your warmth is life to our souls.

 Veni Creator Spiritus, mentes tuorum visita (Come creator Spirit, and in our souls take up your rest). Amen.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday May 31^st, 2020.

Pentecost Day.