A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
This weekend, we conclude the Easter season with the celebration of Pentecost. However, from this day on, our Easter joy and journey continues even more vigorously with the help of the Advocate as promised by our Lord.
Fifty days after Passover, the Jews celebrated the Feast of Harvest, considered the first fruits as the gifts from the Lord. Similarly, fifty days after Easter, on the day of Pentecost, we Christians celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit, showered upon the Apostles and disciples of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit has been present since the beginning and in the Old Testament, it was given selectively to the chosen people such as prophets and kings. With the coming of Jesus and the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is offered to all who receive Him through baptism. Since the day of Pentecost, the Apostles were not the same….they became courageous and brisk in their mission of evangelization.
I read a short story about a sailboat that was stranded off the coast of South America. Week after week the ship lay there in the still waters with not a hint of a breeze. The captain was desperate; the crew was dying of thirst. And then, on the far horizon, a steamship appeared, heading directly toward them. As it drew near, the captain called out, “We need water! Give us water!” The steamship replied, “Lower your buckets where you are.” The captain was furious at this cavalier response but called out again, “Please, give us water.” But the steamer gave the same reply, “Lower your buckets where you are!” And with that they sailed away! The captain was beside himself with anger and despair, and he went below. But a little later, when no one was looking, a yeoman lowered a bucket into the sea and tasted what he brought up, it was perfectly sweet, fresh water! The ship was actually stuck on the delta region of the great Amazon River. For all those weeks they had been sitting right on top of all the fresh water they needed!
We all receive the Holy Spirit from the day of our baptism. We are now called to carry out the Easter joy courageously and vigorously. Let us celebrate the Holy Spirit in us!
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11
- Reading 2: 1 Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13
- Gospel: John 20: 19-23
