Saturday, May 23, 2015

Pentecost Sunday, Year B, 24.05.2015

Acts 2:1-11 / 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13 / John 20:19-23 

The living proof of Singapore’s cosmopolitan status is her adoption of four official languages, namely Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English.

English is the medium of education and business – it is the first language taught in school and the main language used in the workplace.

But English is certainly not a language that is easily mastered. 

Some say that English is a funny language; others say it’s a crazy language.

It is funny as in the examples of an oxymoron, which is a phrase in which two words of contradictory meaning are brought together:

Clearly misunderstood; small crowd; act naturally; found missing; pretty ugly; seriously funny; only choice; original copies. But somehow we understand what it means.

Actually I came across all this when I was trying to be sure of what a continuous tense is all about. In the end I was clearly blur.

Let’s just say that a continuous tense is about verbs that end with “ing”, like talking, looking, eating, etc. It usually refers to an action that is continuous.

Of course, it is obviously not a surname, nor is it used as one. But in church there is an “Ing” family. 

We may know some of them but they may need some introduction.

There is “Miss-ing” but she is not here. There is “Complain-ing” but he usually writes a lot. There is “Gossip-ing” and she is often with others. “Argu-ing” and “Quarrel-ing” usually hang out together. “Ly-ing” is out to con somebody. And the leader of the gang is someone called “Sinn-ing”.

But that’s just one side of the “Ing” family. The other side of that family has “Lov-ing” and “Car-ing” and they are working hard to protect the family reputation.

“Encourag-ing” and “Inspir-ing” is giving them support because it is often a thankless task. “Almsgiv-ing” is reaching out to those in need and “Fast-ing” and “Pray-ing” are creating opportunities for “Forgiv-ing”.

And so that’s the “Ing” family. So, now that we know who they are, then we must also decide on which side of the family we want to be with.

Today as the Church celebrates the great feast of Pentecost, the Church also comes together as a family.

In the 1st reading, we heard that on that Pentecost day, the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles and filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke foreign languages.

And the peoples of different nationalities heard them speaking in their own languages and preaching about the marvels of God.

And with that, something was changing. Diversity was changing into unity. The Spirit was working and the Church was manifesting.

The 2nd reading gives a good imagery of the Church as a human body made up of many different parts but united as a single unit.

And it is the same Spirit working in these different parts, in different people in different ways, but all for a good purpose and for God’s purpose.

With the Spirit working, things can change and will keep changing for a good purpose and for God’s purpose.

In the gospel, we heard that the disciples were in a room with the door closed and in fear, but Jesus came and stood among them.

From then on, things began to change, as Jesus said to them, “As the Father sent Me, so am I sending you.” After saying this, He breathed on them the Holy Spirit. 

Today, Jesus is also breathing on us the Holy Spirit. And just as He sent the disciples, so is He sending us. 

So where is Jesus sending us to and what are we supposed to be doing.

At that Pentecost day when the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples and they went forth speaking different languages and preaching about the marvels of God, something was changing.

The hearts of those who were listening to them were changing. 

Similarly, we are sent forth to bring about a change and it must be a change for a good purpose and for God’s purpose.

And we must go forth with one member of the “Ing” family called “Pray-ing” 

And “Pray-ing” will teach us about PUSH. PUSH is an acronym for Pray Until Something Happens.

Earlier this week, I opened the petition boxes and read those petitions that were not marked “Private & Confidential”. I read those petitions so that I can pray for those who have offered their prayer petitions.

I came across a letter from a lady who wrote to Mother Mary to say that she is having a difficult pregnancy and that she was contemplating to terminate the pregnancy. 

Of course, I immediately activated all my prayer advocates to pray for this lady and I told them to PUSH.

We will pray until something happens, and we pray that it will be for a good purpose and for God’s purpose, and I call upon you to join me in prayer for that lady.

And I look forward for a Thanksgiving letter from her.

Yes, we must keep PUSHing and believe that things can change and will change and keep changing.

We keep praying that those who are arguing and quarreling, those who are complaining and gossiping, those who are missing, those who are lying and sinning, will eventually change to become loving and caring, forgiving and inspiring and encouraging.

Those disciples in that room changed from fearing to proclaiming. 

With the power of the Holy Spirit, we too will change and keep changing. 

And it must be for a good purpose and for God’s purpose.