Dear brothers and sisters, Let the Holy Spirit possess us, not other spirit, and let him work wonders in us. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our
Bible Study
Pentecost Sunday A
8 June 2014
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st
reading: Acts 2:1-11
 1 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one
place together. 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise
like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they
were. 3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which
parted and came to rest on each one of them. 4 And they were all
filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as
the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. 5 Now there were devout Jews
from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. 6 At this
sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all
these people who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how does each
of us hear them in his own native language? 9 We are Parthians,
Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt
and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from
Rome, 11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of
God."
The focus is on theThe focus is on the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit and the glossolalia.and the glossolalia.

3. 1st
reading: Acts 2:1-11
Setting
 1 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place
together.
Descent of the Holy Spirit
 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were. 3 Then there appeared to
them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of
them.
Result: Speaking in tongues
 4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different
tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in
Jerusalem. 6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were
confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
 7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these
people who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how does each of us hear
them in his own native language? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, and
Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and
Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near
Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, 11 both Jews and converts to
Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own
tongues of the mighty acts of God."
A simple outline!

4. 1st
reading: Acts 2:1-11
Setting
 1 When the time for
Pentecost was fulfilled, they
were all in one place together.
Descent of the Holy Spirit
 2 And suddenly there came
from the sky a noise like a
strong driving wind, and it
filled the entire house in which
they were. 3 Then there
appeared to them tongues as
of fire, which parted and came
to rest on each one of them.
Result: Speaking in tongues
 4 And they were all filled with
the holy Spirit and began to
speak in different tongues, as
the Spirit enabled them to
proclaim.
Commentary
 V.1 provides the setting of the
descent of the Holy Spirit:
 Time of Pentecost (50 days after
resurrection)
 In one place
 In V.2, the descent is sudden, in the
form of a noise like a strong wind
(sound effect)
 V.3 indicates the appearance of the
Holy Spirit, as tongues of fire resting
on each one.
 In v.4, all of them are filled with the
Holy Spirit.
 As a result, they begin to speak in
different tongues.

5. 1st
reading: Acts 2:1-11
 5 Now there were devout Jews
from every nation under heaven
staying in Jerusalem. 6 At this
sound, they gathered in a large
crowd, but they were confused
because each one heard them
speaking in his own language.
 7 They were astounded, and in
amazement they asked, "Are
not all these people who are
speaking Galileans? 8 Then
how does each of us hear them
in his own native language? 9
We are Parthians, Medes, and
Elamites, inhabitants of
Mesopotamia, Judea and
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya
near Cyrene, as well as
travelers from Rome, 11 both
Jews and converts to Judaism,
Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear
them speaking in our own
tongues of the mighty acts of
God."
 V.5 indicates the presence of the devout
Jews (not just ordinary but God-fearing Jews),
from all over the place.
 In v.6, they also gather together at the
sound of the Holy Spirit.
 They are thrown into confusion. (They
can’t explain why the men from Galilee are
talking in different languages now).
 In v.7, they are astounded and in
amazement, as they ask about the
apostles’ origins hypothetically, which
demands an affirmative answer.
 V.8 states that each of the apostles speak
in their native tongues.
 Vv.9-10 enumerate the places, where the
devout Jews come from.
 V.11 expresses their amazement on the
speaking in tongues (glossolalia).
 The content of the preaching (in tongues) of
the apostles is the mighty act of God (a
kind of theophany as in Exodus).

6. Reflections on the 1st
reading
 The Holy Spirit has also descended upon us, Christians,
through baptism and confirmation.
 Like the apostles, we have a mission.
 Mission work is primarily a proclamation.
 We proclaim what God has done for us, not what we do
to others, or, what others have not done to us.
 The ability to communicate God’s love to others is a sure
sign of the Holy Spirit working in us.

7. Resp. Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
 R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the
earth.
 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
24 How manifold are your works, O Lord!
the earth is full of your creatures;
 29 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
30 Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
 31 If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
34 When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

8. Resp. Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
 R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your
Spirit, and renew the face of the
earth.
 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great
indeed!
24 How manifold are your works, O
Lord!
the earth is full of your creatures;
 29 May the glory of the LORD
endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
30 Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
 31 If you take away their breath,
they perish
and return to their dust.
34 When you send forth your spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
Commentary
 In v.1, the psalmist blesses the Lord and
acknowledges God’s greatness.
 V.24 specifies God’s greatness: works
and all, that can be seen on the surface of
the earth.
 In v.29, the psalmist wishes God’s glory
(greatness) to remain for ever and that
the Lord be happy with his
accomplishments (like us, humans).
 In v.30, the psalmist is aware if he is
happy in the Lord, he will be pleasing to
God.
 V.31 mentions the power of God over life.
God is in-charge of our life and our death.
 Death spells our return to the elements.
 In v.34, the psalmist makes a theological
statement: God sends his Spirit.
 Through his Spirit, all things are created
and renewed.

9. Reflections on the Psalm
 We, Christians, must realize how much God’s Spirit
works in us.
 We cannot be created and renewed without God’s Spirit.
 When there is no creativity and newness, it means that
the Spirit is absent.
 When we are bored to death because we don’t see
anything new and exciting, and we encounter the same
things again and again, the Spirit is absent.
 The Spirit is present when we re-create ourselves,
improve our relationships and the quality of our lives
(attitude and behavior), and when we start anew.
 Are you contented with what is old and jurassic?
 Do you feel re-created and renewed?

10. 2nd
reading: 1 Cor 12:3-7.12-13
 3 Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit
of God says, "Jesus be accursed." And no one can say,
"Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit. 4 There are
different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 5
there are different forms of service but the same Lord; 6
there are different workings but the same God who
produces all of them in everyone. 7 To each individual
the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.
 12 As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the
parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also
Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one
body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
The focus is on the one Spirit.

11. 2nd
reading: 1 Cor 12,3-7.12-13
Utterance by the Holy Spirit
 3 Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit
of God says, "Jesus be accursed." And no one can say,
"Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit.
Variety of spiritual gifts
 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same
Spirit; 5 there are different forms of service but the same
Lord; 6 there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone. 7 To each
individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some
benefit.
Unity / Integration
 12 As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the
parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also
Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one
body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
A simple outline!

12. 2nd
reading: 1 Cor 12,3-7.12-13
Utterance by the Holy
Spirit
 3 Therefore, I tell you
that nobody speaking
by the spirit of God
says, "Jesus be
accursed." And no one
can say, "Jesus is
Lord," except by the
holy Spirit.
Variety of spiritual gifts
 4 There are different
kinds of spiritual gifts
but the same Spirit; 5
there are different
forms of service but the
same Lord; 6 there are
different workings but
the same God who
produces all of them in
everyone. 7 To each
individual the
manifestation of the
Spirit is given for some
benefit.
Commentary
 V.3 indicates that if we are possessed by the
spirit of the Lord (Holy Spirit), it is impossible for
us to curse Jesus.
 At the same time, we cannot say, “Jesus is
Lord,” if we are not possessed by the Spirit.
 The presence of the Spirit determines the kind
of prayer we utter to Jesus.
 V.4 affirms the different gifts of the Holy Spirit.
 The different gifts come from one and the same
source: the Holy Spirit.
 Therefore, there should be no divisions.
 V.5 is parallel to v.4. Many services but the
same Lord.
 V.6 continues the style. Many workings but the
same God.
 Notice the names referring to the same: Holy
Spirit, Lord, and God (somehow Trinitarian).
 In v.7, the Holy Spirit gives a particular gift to a
particular individual for the benefit of others.

13. 2nd
reading: 1 Cor 12,3-7.12-13
Unity / Integration
 12 As a body is one
though it has many
parts, and all the
parts of the body,
though many, are
one body, so also
Christ. 13 For in one
Spirit we were all
baptized into one
body, whether Jews
or Greeks, slaves or
free persons, and we
were all given to
drink of one Spirit.
 V.12 talks about the unity of
Christians.
 We, Christians, are members of
the same body, the body of Christ.
 There is only one Christ.
Therefore, there should also be
one body.
 V.13 indicates that we have one /
common baptism.
 We may come from different races,
social and economic levels, but we
are baptized in the same Spirit, we
drink of one and the same Spirit.

14. Reflections on the 2nd
reading
 God has given us gifts (talents) according to our
capacity.
 We must not complain or get jealous, if other
people are more brilliant or better than us.
 Our abilities and capacities should serve the
common good.
 The variety of gifts (charisms) must be utilized in
coordination with the other gifts.
 We create divisions and fragmentations, when
we misuse our God-given talents.

15. Gospel reading: John 20:19-23
 19 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." 20 When he
had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21
(Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the
Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 And when he
had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are
forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
We focus on the holy Spirit, although the focus of the text is
Jesus’ appearance.

16. Gospel reading: John 20:19-23
Setting: Sunday, locked doors, greetings of peace
 19 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."
 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
Feelings of joy
 The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Greetings of peace and the Holy Spirit
 21 (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has
sent me, so I send you."
 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
No feelings of joy (bakit kaya?)
The simple outline!

17. Gospel reading: John 20:19-23
Setting: Sunday, locked doors, greetings of
peace
 19 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."
 20 When he had said this, he showed
them his hands and his side.
Feelings of joy
 The disciples rejoiced when they saw the
Lord.
Greetings of peace and the Holy Spirit
 21 (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be
with you. As the Father has sent me, so I
send you."
 22 And when he had said this, he
breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins
you forgive are forgiven them, and whose
sins you retain are retained."
No more feelings of joy
Commentary
 The text describes Jesus’ appearance to the
apostles after his resurrection.
 It also describes the disposition of the apostles
after the death of Jesus and his appearance.
 V.19 provides the setting of the story of the
appearance of Jesus:
 Date: Sunday
 Venue: In a room, doors locked
 Greetings: Peace be with you.
 In v.20, Jesus quickly shows his hands and
side.
 They rejoice at his sight, not just at the sight of
his wounds.
 In v.21, Jesus repeats his greetings. Then he
adds, “I send you.”
 In v.22, following the pattern in v.20 (When he
had said this), Jesus breathes on them the Holy
Spirit.
 V.23 gives the reason for sending them, for
giving them the Holy Spirit: forgiveness of sins.
 The text does not describe their feelings. Ay!!
Quite intriguing!

18. Reflections on the gospel reading
 Like the apostles, we also have received the
Holy Spirit.
 We receive the Holy Spirit with a purpose.
 With the power of the Holy Spirit, we need to
preach and to forgive our brethren.
 We make the presence of the Holy Spirit
meaningless in our lives, by being quiet about
the gospel and by doing nothing for Christ and
for the Church.

19. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading describes the descent of the Holy Spirit
upon the apostles. (public, people around noticed it.)
 The psalm recognizes the work of the Spirit in creation
and renewal.
 The second reading reiterates that the gifts come from
the same Spirit. We have no right to be divided.
 The gospel reading talks about Jesus’ breathing the Holy
Spirit upon the apostles. (private)

20. How to develop your homily / sharing
 What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
 Do we possess this Spirit?
 Do other spirits possess us?
 This Pentecost Sunday should remind us of the
importance of the Holy Spirit.
 It is from the Holy Spirit that we draw inspiration.

21.  In the first reading, the Holy Spirit makes us speak of the
wonderful deeds of God.
 It is through the Holy Spirit that we make ourselves
understood by other people.
 With the Holy Spirit, we can communicate to other
cultures, religions and races.
 The Holy Spirit makes other people wonder through our
spirit-filled behavior.
 If you inspire other people to praise God, you possess
the Holy Spirit.

22.  The second reading teaches us that we owe our gifts
and talents to the Holy Spirit.
 We should use them for the good of the community.
 Though we have varied gifts, we should be united.
 Never should our talents be sources of division in our
communities.
 Unity does not mean having the same talents and
doing the same things.
 The variety of gifts must stand at the disposal of the
various needs of the Church.
 If other people do not see anything good (talent) in you,
because you are hiding it, you are not making the Holy
Spirit work in you. You are good for nothing.

23.  In the gospel reading, the Holy Spirit is sent to us to
assist us in our mission.
 Our mission is to preach the Word of God and to impart
forgiveness.
 We cannot be effective missionaries if we do not
possess the Holy Spirit.
 Christians should show that they possess the Holy Spirit
by their reverent Christian behavior.
 Can you speak of the gospel from your heart, without
feeling corny?
 Can you forgive your brothers and sisters who have
offended you?

24.  In the Church, there are many charismatic groups.
 Their mission is to help renew the Church.
 They have drawn back wayward Catholics back to the
fold.
 Some charismatic groups put themselves in opposition
to the “institutional Church.”
 Without proper guidance, they can go into different
directions.
 Not only talents (charisma) can be the source of their
own division, but also money.
 When they talk more about money and their
organizational problems, they lose their relevance in the
Church.

25.  In the Church, many organizations and
individuals need to be exorcized, because
another kind of spirit (evil spirit, spirit of individualism,
rivalry, gossiping, slandering, and cynism) takes hold of
them.
 They do not follow their own rules (refusal to pay their
dues, refusal to take responsibility, absentee, forever a counselee,
refusal to recognize their leaders).
 You can see in their problematic and unhappy
faces, because nothing good is happening.
 They are pain in the neck of the priests and
bishops.

26.  Many of the so-called charismatics do not
go to confession.
 They don’t receive holy communion and
other sacraments.
 They do not help renew the Church, but
stifle its growth.

27.  The eucharist is a Spirit-filled celebration.
 The participation in the eucharist is our response
to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
 In the mass, we unite ourselves with one
another and with Christ.
 In the eucharist, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide
us, enlighten us, enliven us in our mission.

28. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 “Monopoly” of the Spirit
 Pretending to possess
the Spirit
 Divisive
 Sowing intrigues
 Jealousy
 Refusal to create and to
renew
 Refusal to attend ongoing
formations
 Charlatan
 Renewal groups and
movements
 Spiritual exercises
 Renewal programs
 Ongoing formations
 Updated and formed
speakers
 Good communications
 United with Christ in his
Word and Sacrament

29. Suggested Songs
 Veni, Creator Spiritus
 The Spirit is a-Movin’
 The Spirit of God
 Come Holy Ghost
 Come Holy Spirit