Sunday Introduction

        Pentecost Sunday

A Reflection By Dom Henry Wansbrough  OSB

 None of the gospels gives an account of the Day of Pentecost, but St John tells us of another incident where the Risen Christ gave the Spirit to his disciples. There are two emphases in the account.

The first is peace. Christ brings peace to his disciples with the double greeting of peace, and peace is a Christian watchword. Peace was the song of the angels at Jesus’ birth; each of Paul’s letters opens with a greeting of peace; the letter to the Ephesians proclaims that Christ is our peace – the reversal of all worry, strife, envy, jealousy, self-seeking ambition. ‘Go in peace’ is Jesus’ dismissal of those he cures, and also the dismissal at the end of Mass. Peace was Jesus’ bequest to his disciples after the Last Supper.

The second watchword is forgiveness, for God was always known as a God of mercy and forgiveness; Jesus came to show this by his constant meeting with and welcoming of sinners. Moreover, the Lord’s Prayer shows that if we do not ourselves forgive, we block God’s forgiveness of ourselves too.

How can you bring peace more effectively to those you meet?           Dom Henry

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