SEDL: Pentecost

Grace: Dear Lord, open my heart.

Scriptural Reading:

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” (Jn 20:19-23).

Points for Reflection:

1. The doors were locked and the disciples’ hearts were fearful. Fearful hearts are locked hearts. Locked doors and locked hearts, however, were not strong enough to prevent Jesus from lovingly breaking into their lives. Jesus breathed on his friends giving them the first fruits of the Spirit.

Later on Pentecost Day, still lacking in power but full of hope, these same disciples and probably others waited for the promise to be fulfilled – the promise of receiving the fullness of the Spirit. That they were waiting together says much about the importance of community. With fragile hope they waited. Suddenly the joyful, awesome sound of wind and fire arrive. Fearful hearts blossom with courage. The barriers that came from not understanding one another burn away with the fire of the spirit.

Surely in that moment the disciples must have remembered when Jesus came through the locked doors and breathed on them. In the mystery of eternity, you and I were present also. Whatever ups and downs we experience on our path of life, let us always remember the breath of the Spirit (by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B.).

2. What have been instances, circumstances and events wherein I experienced locking my heart from other people? What happened? Who were the people involved? And, as I recall those moments, what significant feelings surface?

3. Share these events and feelings with your God. Listen to His/Her response.

4. End by just saying, "open my heart."