Homily Pentecost 2023
Franklin Fong, OFM
May 28, 2023
The celebration of Pentecost is an occasion to recognize the 2 basic needs and the possible tension there is between them. First there is the need to acknowledge and promote our uniqueness. And then there is also the need to experience a life of concern for others. Both diversity and unity are to be in our faith journey. One separates us. The other unites us. That’s the challenge !
Yes God must love variety since he made each of us quite unique and unlike others. We are each given special gifts with which we develop our individual selves as fully as possible. Each of us should become truly himself/herself.
But as well God has also made us social creatures, especially in the Chinese culture. We need each other. Yet to ourselves in our uniqueness we are weak and incomplete. We must grow to recognize our interdependence and live shared lives. It is no surprise that we are formed as Chinese culture to live as interrelated and interconnected persons in community.
Today's readings speak to this needed integration of diversity and oneness. On Pentecost the disciples of Jesus were gathered in one place as a community, yet each spoke in their own language!
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles St Luke tells about the coming of the Holy Spirit and how it transforms the apostles. They get out of their fears and go out into the open. They become gifted with speech. They are understood when they speak even though they speak different languages. They become missionaries. The Holy Spirit should have the same effect on us. He also urges us to develop our differing gifts and still be united in the same Spirit.
The Psalm 104 recognizes two important acts of the Holy Spirit, even before the Pentecost. The Holy Spirit gives life. It renews. As Christians, we must show that the Spirit lives in us, by the way we live. We must live spirited lives, not dull lives. We must show creativity at all times in dealing with God and with one another. We must use our imagination. It is the working of the Holy Spirit in us who gives us life, renews us who feel old and antiquated as no one is old in the eyes of God when the Spirit breathes on them. So, we must welcome the Spirit of God in our lives.
The second reading in the letter to the Romans, St Paul informs us what happens when we live in the Spirit, and not according to flesh. Our mortal bodies become alive. We put to death our bodies that lead us to sin. We become children of God. We become intimate with God. We can call God “Abba, Father”, without feeling corny. To live according to flesh is living in sin and death. We cannot please God when we live according to the flesh. For those who live in the Spirit, in Christ, life will be given to their mortal bodies and they will live as children of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Even though we may have suffering, we are glorified with God.
- the Gospel of John we hear about how the Church is given power to speak God’s forgiveness of sins since sin is divisive. Sin in ourselves must be removed if there is to be unity. Sinfulness is to be just for yourself, or to refuse to relate and to be open to others, or to fail to give and to receive, or to love just yourself and no others ! Clearly then loving God, keeping his commandments and not being sinful paves the way of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit cannot work in us, cannot comfort us, if we have no love for God and if we don’t do his will.
The unifying themes of these reading are that :
-
the first reading tells about the descent of the Holy Spirit in the forms of sound and fire.
-
The psalm teaches that the Spirit of God gives life and renews life.
-
The second reading tells us the benefits of living according to the Holy Spirit.
-
The gospel reading assures us the abiding comforting presence of the Holy Spirit if we love God and keep his commandments!
So brothers and sisters, take some time to reflect how the Holy Spirit has come into your faith life – into your head, your heart and hands !! This feast of the Pentecost which reminds us that if truly we possess the Holy Spirit, we are creative in our dealings with our loved one and we transform people and societies.
1. The eucharist fosters and deepens our spiritual lives;
2. In the eucharist, Jesus with the Holy Spirit and the Father comes to console us;
3. Living eucharistic lives in our earthly journey is living according to the Spirit;
4. In this eucharist, the Holy Spirit teaches and reminds us that we are God’s children!
Brothers and Sisters of the Chinese Catholic Community
that is the Good News for this Pentecost Sunday.
Alleluia Alleluia
(中文翻譯.原文以英文為準.)
鄺神父主日道理中譯本
復活期(甲年)五旬節講道 - 05/28/2023
讀經一: 宗徒大事錄 2:1-11
讀經二: 格林多人前書 12:3-7, 12-13
若望福音: 20:19-23
五旬節到了，在慶祝這節日的時候，正是讓我們覺察出大家都有兩種互相對抗的基本需要。其一需要就是承認和凸顯自己的獨特性，而其二就是要體驗和關心他人的生活。多樣性和統一性都將出現在我們的信仰之旅中。一個把我們分開，另一個讓我們結合起來。就是這挑戰！
是的，天主一定喜歡多樣性，因為他讓我們每個人都非常獨特，與眾不同。我們每個人都被賦予特殊的恩賜，我們可以利用這些恩賜，盡可能充分地發展自己。我們每個人都應該成為真正的自己。
但天主也將我們造成為社會中的動物，尤其是在中國文化中，我們彼此需要。然而，對於我們自己來說，我們的獨特性是軟弱和不完整的。我們必須逐漸認識到我們互相依靠的關係和分享生活的安排。毫不奇怪，我們形成了中國文化，成群成社地生活，互關靠、互連結。
今天的讀經談到了多樣性和統一性的必要整合。在五旬節，主耶穌的門徒聚集一起，雖成團體，但每個人都說著自己的方言！
讀經一的宗徒大事錄中，聖路加講述了聖神的降臨以及祂如何改變宗徒們，使能擺脫恐懼，大步踏前。他們變得富有說話的能力。即使他們說着不同的方言，但大家都聴懂。他們成為傳教士。聖神應該對我們有同樣的影響。他還敦促我們發展我們不同的恩賜，並仍然能在同一位聖神中團結一致。
聖詠 104 確認了甚至在五旬節之前，聖神已經有兩個重要作為。聖神賜予生命和更新。作為基督徒，我們必須生活得可以看得到是有聖神住在我們裡面的。我們必須過着有活力，不沉悶的生活。在與天主和與他人互動時，我們必須始終表現出創意，運用想像力。聖神在我們裡面的工作給了我們生命，更新了我們這些感覺年老和古舊的人，因為每當聖神呼氣人們身上時，在天主眼中沒有人是老的。因此，我們必須歡迎天主的聖神進入我們的生命。
讀經二中聖保祿在致格林多人的信中告訴我們，當我們靠聖神而不是隨從肉體而活時會發生什麼。他提醒我們，聖神會賜給我們屬靈的恩竉，使我們的信仰生活受益。這些聖神的恩竉賜給每一個人“猶太人、希臘人、奴隸或自由人”。沒有人被排除在外！只有在給迦拉達書的信中我們才得知這 9 種恩賜是什麼：喜樂、仁愛、平安、忍耐、溫和、良善、柔和、忠信、和節制。為了幫助您記住這些禮物，我創作了它們的書法，今天將把它們送給大家。
在若望福音中，我們聽到教會如何被賦予權力，說出天主對罪的寬恕，因為罪是分裂的。如果要合一，就必須除去我們自己的罪。罪惡就是只為自己，或者拒絕與他人交往，不對他人敞開心扉，或者不給予也不接受，或者只愛自己而不愛別人！顯然，愛天主、遵守祂的誡命和不犯罪是為聖神鋪平了道路。
如果我們不愛天主，不遵行祂的旨意，聖神就無法在我們裡面工作，也無法安慰我們。
今天讀經的統一主題是：
讀經一講述聖神以聲音和火的形態降臨。
聖詠教導說，天主的聖神賜予生命並更新生命。
讀經二告訴我們按照聖神生活的好處。
如果我們愛天主並遵守祂的誡命，福音部分的讀經向我們保證，聖神會一直安慰我們！
所以兄弟姐妹們，花點時間想想聖神是如何進入你的信仰生活的——進入你的頭腦、你的心和你的手！！五旬節的這個盛宴賺禮提醒我們，如果我們真的擁有聖神，我們就會在與我們所愛的人打交道時發揮創造性，並改變人和社會。
1. 聖體聖事促進和深化我們的屬靈生活；
2. 在聖體聖事中，主耶穌帶著聖神和聖父來安慰我們；
3. 在我們塵世的旅程中過聖體聖事生活是按照聖神的生活；
4. 在這聖體聖事中，聖神教導並提醒我們，我們是天主的兒女！
天主教華人團體兄弟姐妹們,以上就是這個五旬節主日的喜訊。
亞肋路亞, 亞肋路亞!
