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Faith Alive Outreach, 83 Clove Road, New Rochelle, NY (2026)

06/01/2026

Monday June 1, 2026. 9th Week in the Ordinary Time of the Year 2

🙌🏻Great & awesome God, thanks for the New Month!

🌹Memorial of St. Justin, Martyr

Red: ⛪⛓️⚔️🪓📤👑

📖1st Reading: 2Pt. 1:2-7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 91 🎺🎻🎷🎶 🎼 (R.v. 2) My God, in you I trust.

Alleluia! Alleluai!!
Apoc. 1:5

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the Ruler of the Kings of the earth. Alleluia!!!

📖Gospel Reading: Mk. 12:1-12

Theme: *Accountability matters a lot!*

🎤Reflection:

➕Jesus Spoke to the Pharisees the parable of a vineyard owner & his wicked tenants who at vintage time sent 3 sets of his servants to bring in the harvest. The 1st they seized & thrashed, the 2nd they beat about & treated shamefully. The 3rd he thought they would respect being his only son, but they killed him. He asked them about the feeling of the owner. They answered that he would bring the wretch to a wretched end, & give the vineyard to others. Jesus made them know that it was the stone rejected by the builders that has turned into a key stone. When they realized He was talking to them, they would have arrested Him but they were afraid of the people. So they left Him alone.

➕One of the highest qualities of a good steward is accountability. Once cultivated, the steward excels. Jesus remarked & recommended it highly in this parable!

➕Beloved faithfuls, in whatever that is entrusted to us we must always be ready as trustworthy stewards to give an account of it. Our life, talents, families, responsibilities, etc., have all been entrusted to us as caretakers. Whoever that owns them deserves such an account from us. According to Dave Ramsey; an American Radio personality: "without accountability, there is no trust, & without trust, there is no leadership."

➕We must, therefore, always at all times prove ourselves trustworthy & responsible by delivering the goods of our stewardship. It tantamounts to wickedness to conceive & execute evil against our employers or those that entrusted something into our care. Let us eschew the evil intent of running any establishment down or plotting evil against the owner because of our selfish purposes. As St Peter admonished, we must grow in virtues especially in goodness, kindness, devotion, self-control & love. For to whom much is given, much is expected (Lk. 12:48).

🙏Let us pray: Owner of the Vineyard, teach us everyday to be accountable for our individual gifts & goods entrusted to our care. May we deliver the harvest at vintage time. Amen!

🙏We pray for all those who display gross irresponsibility in the management of public & private goods, may they learn to be responsible & accountable. Amen!

🙇🏻‍♂️I pray for you & your family in this month of June, that God's inexhaustible goodness, kindness, & favor may be with you. May He take you to where the pasture is greener. Amen!

🙇🏻‍♂️St. Justin, pray for us!

🙌Give us your grace to cope!

05/31/2026

Sunday May 31, 2026. 9th Sunday of the year A

🙏🏻Joyful thanksgiving to God for the month end!

👨‍👨‍👦Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

White: ⛪❤👨‍👨‍👦🙏🏵🎗

📖1st Reading: Ex. 34:4-6. 8-9

Responsorial Psalm: Dan. 3 🎺🎻🎷🎶 🎼 (R.v. 52) To you glory & praise for evermore.

📖2nd Reading:
2Cor. 13:11-13

Alleluia! Alleluai!!
Rev. 1:8

Glory to the Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirit: to God who is, who was, & who is to come. Alleluia!!!

📖Gospel Reading: Jn. 3:16-18

Theme: *The Holy Trinity: One Purpose & One Goal!*

🎤Reflection:

➕While encountering God with the two tablets of stone containing the commandments, Moses proclaimed Him as God of tenderness & compassion, slow to anger & rich in faithfulness. He then beckoned on Him to accompany them on the journey. Though the people were headstrong, he begged for forgiveness on their behalf.

➕Jesus detailed to Nicodemus His mission on earth. The love of the Father for the world made Him to send His Son to redeem mankind so that whoever that believed would have eternal life. He sent the Son not to condemn, but whoever that refused to believe Him had been condemned already.

➕Dearest brothers & sisters, what is celebrated today is a Feast embedded in mystery beyond human comprehension. Among all the mono-theistic religions it is only Christianity that professes belief in three Persons in one God; Co-Eternal, Co-Equal & Consubstantial. It is an 'operating system' that involves 3 Persons of the same substance, essence or nature in one God. While the Moses beckoned on God the Father to accompany them on their exodus journey despite the people's sin, in the Gospel, Jesus drilled Nicodemus on the mandate of the Father to the Son accomplished by the Spirit for the salvation of the world!

➕Years before the doctrinal controversies that led to the convocation of the 1st Ecumenical Councils, Tertullian, an early Christian apologist, initiated the use of the Latin words; Trinitas (Trinity), Persona (Person) & Substantia (Substance). Hence, while in the fight against Arianism the Council of Nicaea (AD 326) defined the Substance of the Son as one with the Father (Homoousios), the Council of Constantinople (AD 381) identified the Holy Spirit with the Godhead, & the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451) defined the Hypostatic union of Jesus Christ; i.e., Jesus is one Person with two Natures; Human & Divine.

➕Therefore, the Holy Trinity is Co-eternal, Co-equal & Consubstantial. The Bible, however, didn't explicitly use the term "Trinity," but it reveals God as a relational being, existing in perfect unity & love (Cf. Gen. 2:26, Is. 9:6, Mat. 28:19, Jn. 1:1-14, Jn. 10:30 & 2Cor. 13:14). Remarkably, the Father created (Gen. 1:1), the Son redeemed (Jn. 3:16) & the Holy Spirit sanctified (Acts. 2:1-4). Though distinct in their functions, the Trinity gears towards the same goal & purpose. It is quintessentially a unity in diversity. On this special day, the Church wants us to understand that: 1️⃣Our faith as Christians is built on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. 2️⃣God is always with us in one of His Persons. 3️⃣The Trinity is founded in love. 4️⃣Our diversity is a big plus if we act in unity. & 5️⃣We must live Trinitarian life as Christians for we are baptized in the Trinity.

➕The mystery of the Holy Trinity is a testament to God's immeasurable love & complexity. It teaches us about love, relationships, the interconnectedness of all creatures. The Three Persons combine in action in order to birth us as Christians. In other words, we are Trinitarian-made through our baptism. While the Catechism of the Catholic Church (ccc. 237) acknowledges that the Blessed Trinity is a mystery inaccessible to human reason alone, it however inspires us to live in love, unity & service to God & one another. As St Augustine would teach; the Father is the lover, the Son is the loved one, & the Holy Spirit is the personification of the very act of loving. We must therefore imitate the Trinity by embracing the trinitarian life in all our dealings & in unity achieve common purpose. There is diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit, diversity of ministries, but rendered to the same Lord, & diversity of works, but the same God works in all (1Cor. 12:4-6).

🙏Let us pray: Triune God, we are made in you. Accompany us in our life's journey so as to live in you & you in us. Amen!

🙏🏼We pray for the daily renewal of the Trinitarian Love, One God in Three Persons in the lives of all Christian & non christian peoples. Amen!

😄Happy Trinity Sunday!

🙌Glory be to the Father & the Son & the Holy Spirit!

05/30/2026

Saturday May 30, 2026. 8th Week in the Ordinary Time of the year 2.

🌻Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary.

White: ⛪📖🌼✨🌟📤👑

📖1st Reading: Jude 1:17, 20-25

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 62 🎺🎻🎷🎶 🎼 (R.v. 2) For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God!

Alleluia! Alleluai!!
1Pet. 1:25

The Word of the Lord remains forever: What is this Word? It is the Good News that has been brought to you. Alleluia!!!

📖Gospel Reading : Mk. 11:27-33

Theme: *The Philosophical Jesus!*

🎤Reflection:

➕The chief priests, scribes & elders of the people came to ask Jesus the source of His authority for driving people out from the temple. He told them that He could only answer their question on the condition that they would tell Him the source of John's baptism; from man or God. In their discernment they reasoned that admitting it came from God, He would ask them why they failed to believe him & if man, they would face the people's wrath who believed it came from God. They told Him that they didn't know, & Jesus told them that He wouldn't tell them the source of His authority either.

➕One of the endowments of the Holy Spirit on believers is manifested in boldness of our spirit. With this, faith in God is proclaimed courteously & without fear. Jesus boldly dislodged His detractors with His superior argument!

➕Children of God, in a modern world where so many articles of faith fly about like dangerous virus, we must be well grounded in the knowledge of God as contained in the Scriptures, & also be filled with the Spirit in order to defend our faith. This ability would definitively destroy every threat to our faith.

➕Our birth in the Holy Spirit must find expression in bold profession of faith & not chickening out in the face of false. As Peter puts it, "you must be ready to give answer to anyone who asks the reason for the hope you profess, but you must do so with gentility & courtesy (1Pt. 3:15).

🙏Let us pray: Invincible God, enbolden us to stand in defence of the faith we profess. Put your divine words in us to always carry us through. Amen!

🙏We pray for all those who are yet to boldly profess their faith in Jesus & in God, may they be endowed so as to be strong in their profession of faith. Amen!

🙇🏻‍♂️Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us!

🙌Be courageous & bold, success is ours

05/29/2026

Friday May 29, 2026. 8th Week in the ordinary time of the year 2

Green: ⛪🌳☘🌱🌴🌵

📖1st Reading: 1Pt. 4:7-13

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 96 🎺🎻🎷🎶 🎼 (R.v.) The Lord comes to rule the earth!

Alleluia! Alleluai!!
Ps. 118:36, 29

Bend my heart to your will, O Lord, & teach me your law. Alleluia!

📖Gospel Reading : Mk. 11:11-26

Theme : *Authentic Christianity!*

🎤Reflection:

➕Aftering entering Jerusalem temple, Jesus went to Bethania with the 12. He was hungry & sought for fruits from a luxuriant fig tree. When He found none He laid a curse on it. On coming back to Jerusalem, He cast out those selling in the temple. He taught them that His Father's house should be a house of prayer for all nations & not a den of robbers. When they came to that city the following day, they found out that the fig tree had withered away. Peter remembered the curse placed on it & Jesus asked them to have faith; for whatever they asked for in faith without staggering of heart would be granted. In prayers, however, they must forgive wrongs so that their Father would forgive them. If not, theirs would not be forgiven.

➕Return on investment is a business strategy in which business owners & stakeholders expect harvest of profits from their investment. It is an expected outcome from a strategic input. Much was invested in the fig tree & instead of rich fruits, it produced only luxuriant leaves. Jesus' condemnation of it is a clarion call to be authentic witnesses in season & out of season!

➕Fruitful Christians, the word 'christian' is more of a 'doing' word than a 'being' word. The yardstick for measuring a true Christian is not necessarily by the number of times he/she prays, fasts, goes to church etc., but more by the fruits he/she produces. By their fruits of love, generosity, hardwork, piety, peaceful co-existence, honesty etc., we shall know them.

➕So many might be confused on why such an inconsiderate curse by Jesus even when it was not the fig's season of production. We must remember that this is just a parable that serves as pedagogic tool in the hands of Jesus. Hence, it is a notice on all of us Christians to be fruitful in season & out of season for we do not know at what hour that He who invested so much on us would ask for a return on His investment.

➕It is therefore a clarion call on each of us to be authentic in our Christian witnessing at all times. The watchword is "READINESS!" This means that God can ask of us at any point in our life to stand before Him handy with our fruits. There would be no excuses! May we never disappoint Him who has invested so much on us through the death of His only Begotten Son. He chose us to bear fruits; fruits that last (Jn. 15:16).

🙏Let us pray: God our Provider, do not lose hope on us; manure us, prune us in order to keep bearing fruits & witnessing authentically to your name. Amen!

🙏We pray for all those who are just nominal Christians & whose life does not reflect the fruits of their vocation; may God teach them more how to be Christian by words & actions. Amen!

😄Have a fruitful weekend!

🙌May we go out & bear fruits in season & out of season!

05/28/2026

Thursday May 28, 2026. 8th Week in the ordinary time of the year 2

Green: ⛪ 🌿🌱🍃🌲🌳🌴🍀🌿

📖1st Reading: 1Pet. 2:2-5, 9-12

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 99 🎺🎻🎷🎶 🎼 (R.v. 1) Come before the Lord, singing for joy!

Alleluia! Alleluai!!
Ps. 129:5

My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on His Word. Alleluia!!!

📖Gospel Reading: Mk. 10:46-52

Theme: *Resilience & endurance till the end!*

🎤Reflection:

➕From Jericho to Jerusalem with His disciples, a blind beggar, Batimaeus shouting on top of his voice called Jesus to take pity on him. Many people in the crowd scolded him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder. Finally, Jesus sent for him & the same people encouraged him to come up to Jesus for he was calling him. There Jesus asked him what He could do for him & he requested for his sight. Jesus asked him to go for his faith has healed him. Immediately, his sight returned, & he followed him along.

➕It is only failure that is an orphan, success has so many parents, siblings, kins, & kits. The road to success is obviously very challenging, however, with perseverance not minding the crowd of detractors around us, we can wade through any awkward situation. Bartimaeus did it & it worked for him. For Nelson Mandela, "do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down & got back again!"

➕Dearest friends, in any challenge facing us there is every tendency for there to arise discordant voices around us of which the greater part of them would be voices of discouragement. Their actions or inactions can constitute a stumbling block to the achievement of our goals. We must take note & beware of their tendencies!

➕Many people are likely to identify with success, & would most often shun whatever they consider a failure. Only very few will be eager to lend support to those buckling under some existential burdens. We could be discouraged & abused in our trying moments, however, this should be the time our resilience & doggedness must be stronger. Let us not be deterred by their indifference & in some cases hostility. Like blind Bartimaeus, what will basically pull us through is our resilience. For when success is finally achieved, those who used to ask "who are you?" will come back to ask, "how are you?" Only our endurance will win us our lives (Lk. 21:19).

🙏Let us pray: Heavenly Father, see through our hearts, find our needs & grant our good heart desires we seek for in faith. Amen!

🙏We pray for all those who are discouraged by the circumstances of their lives, may they brace up determined to succeed against all odds. Amen!

😁God is merciful!

🙌May the words of our mouth win favour before God!

05/27/2026

Wednesday May 27, 2026. 8th Week in the Ordinary Time of the year 2

👯‍♀️🕺🏻World Children's Day!

Green: ⛪🍈🌿🌱🍃🌲🌳🌴🍀

📖1st Reading: 1Pet. 1:18-25

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 147:12-15, 19-20 🎺🎻🎷🎶 🎼 (R.v. 12) O Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

Alleluia! Alleluai!!
1Jn. 2:5

Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said, God's love comes to perfection in him. Alleluia!!!

📖Gospel Reading: Mk. 10:32-45

Theme: *To serve & not to be served!*

🎤Reflection:

➕On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus took aside the 12 who were in a daze & told them about the suffering that awaited Him in the hands of the Chief priests & scribes, His condemnation, death, & resurrection after 3 days. Meanwhile, James & John came to ask Him the favor of flanking Him left & right in His kingdom. Jesus inquired of their readiness to take up the sufferings He was to undergo & they consented. However, Jesus let them know that though they are ready, that sitting on His left & right would be exclusively His Father's choice. The other 10 felt indignant with them, but Jesus calming them said that high-handedness should not be found among them; that the greatest of them should be their servant. For He came not to be served, but to serve & to give His life as a ramson for many.

➕To always be at the service of others is an aspect of life which many average people would not want to willingly engage in, because it takes rare virtue of humility & self-abnegation to do. And yet, Jesus made it clear that His coming into the world is to serve & not to be served!

➕ Humble servants of God, it was Pope Gregory the Great who popularized the traditional papal title: "Servus servorum Dei," meaning "Servant of the servanta of God," highlighting humility & the Popes' role as servants of all God's people. Although a role that has many salutary effects, serving others is not something so tasteful for many. Most people love to have the act of service rendered to them rather than the vice versa. In our clime, it sometimes appears that wherever the eagerness to serve is in high demand, there is probably something ulterior that the "inspired" or self-acclaimed servants want to achieve.

➕James & John's request is a typical average person's approach to issues about life, leadership, & service. They wanted to be in authority & to be served! For them, greatness is measured by power, status, wealth, & recognition, but for Jesus, it is humility, sacrifice, & love. In the Church, community, & most especially in politics, we see so many aspirants flying on the wings of service to the people. Majority of them if they succeeded, would serve if at all, only themselves. The camouflaged humility would give way & their real selves of lordship would surface!

➕Jesus calls us today to walk the same way He did. Service goes with honesty, integrity, self-effacing, & humility. Greatness actually begins in simple acts of kindness, patient, sacrifice, & humility. We need to seek more not recognition, but opportunities to serve. There is no humiliation in humility, & humility can never go out of fashion. May we bear in mind always wherever we find ourselves that we are called principally to serve & if in any way we find ourselves in a position to be served, let our mindset be that of servants of fellow servants, that is, servant-leadership. For He has brought down rulers from their mighty thrones but has lifted up the humble (Lk. 1:52).

🙏Let us pray: God our Father, give us the strength & disposition to serve. May your blessings be upon us as we serve you in our fellow beings. Amen!

🙏We pray for all those who who pride themselves so much that they look down on service or out of ulterior motive desire to serve. May God heal them of their pride & greed respectively, & make them see the salutary effects in serving others. Amen!

😁God is Almighty!

🙌Let us serve Him in holiness & justice!

05/26/2026

Tuesday May 26, 2026. 8th Week in the Ordinary Time of the year 2

🌻Memorial of St. Philip Neri, Priest

White: ⛪🌼🌟🙏🏻📤👑

📖1st Reading: 1Pt. 1:10-16

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 98 🎺🎻🎷🎶 🎼 (R.v. 2) The Lord has made known his salvation.

Alleluia! Alleluai!!
Mt. 11:25

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of Heaven & earth, for revealing the mysteries of the Kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!!!

📖Gospel Reading: Mk. 10:28-31

Theme: *God pays!*

🎤Reflection:

➕Shocked by the words of Jesus, Peter asked Him what their reward would be; those who had left everything & followed Him. He told them that anyone who has left house, siblings, parents, & children would receive them back over a hundredfold here on earth though not without persecution, & eternal life in the world to come. Hence, the 1st would be the last & the last 1st.

➕The way of God sometimes appears not only too slow for comfort, but also seems as a case of justice being either delayed or denied. Peter sought for clarification in this regard!

➕My dearest friends, the Lord is teaching us that no sacrifice made for God is ever wasted. Sometimes, following Christ may demand letting go of comfort, pride, possessions, or even certain relationships & habits. Yet, Jesus assures us today that no amount of detachment or self-denial of the pleasurable things of this world for His sake would go unrewarded. He pays not only exceedingly here on earth, but also grants everlasting happiness thereafter. He gives us a new family in the community of believers, peace in the heart, & the hope of eternal life.

➕What we need to do is to perserve in the difficulties our detachment & self-denial may avail us which of course, is short-lived, as we wait patiently for the greater reward to come. He can never let us go unrewarded no matter what happens at the end. The time might be uncertain, but it is a blessed assurance that all these promises will be fulfilled. May we have the courage to place Christ first in our lives, trusting that whatever we surrender for Him will lead us to lasting joy & eternal reward. Look, He is coming soon & His recompense is with Him (cf. Rev. 22:12).

🙏Let us pray: Lord of our lives, never let us go unrewarded for our selfless services which your grace enabled us to render to you & to humanity. Amen!

🙏We pray for all those whose life of sacrifice, self denial & detachment seem to be unrewarded, may God keep them fulfilled, & bless them exceedingly at the appointed time. Amen!

🙇🏻‍♂️St. Philip Neri, pray for us!

🙌We will reap the fruit of our labour!

05/25/2026

Monday May 25, 2026. 8th Week in the Ordinary Time, Year 2

🌼Memorial of our Lady Mother of the Church

White: ⛪🙏🏼🕯🌻👩‍👦‍👦📤👑

📖1st Reading: Gen. 3:9-15, 20

Responsorial Psalm: 87
🎺🎻🎷🎶(R.v. 3) Glorious things are said of you, O city of God!

Gospel Acclamation!

Alleluia! Alleluia!!

Happy are you, holy Virgin Mary, & most worthy of all praise, for from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God. Alleluia!!!

📖Gospel Reading:
Mk. Jn. 19:25-34

Theme: *Pray for us, O Mother Mary*

🎤 Reflection:

➕By the side of the cross were standing the mother of Jesus, her sister & other women. Seeing His mother & the beloved apostle, He entrusted each of them mutually into the hands of the other, making John to take Mary into his home. Aware that everything was over & in fulfillment of the Scripture, Jesus called for water, & a sponge soaked in wine held by a hyssop was put in His mouth. On taking it, He announced the consummation of everything, bowed His head & died. Since it was evening & not wanting the bodies to remain until sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken & taken down. The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves, but on getting to Jesus, they found Him already dead. So they didn't break His, but one of the soldiers thrust his lance into His side, & immediately blood & water flew out.

➕Dearest members of Christ's Body the Church, today, we celebrate a very important feast that follows immediately the Pentecost (the Birthday & official inauguration of the Church) in which the indispensable role of our Mother Mary is highlighted. Though contained in the liturgical calendar, the Holy Father, Pope Francis in the last couple of years considered it of utmost importance, because of its great relevance to the newly inaugurated Church, by establishing its celebration on the very Monday following the Pentecost. This is because, in the inauguration of the Church is mirrored Mary's maternal presence & roles in the spread of the Gospel message. These ancillary roles she continued to play in the life & mission of the Church in our time.

➕The above assertions are buttressed in the 1st & 2nd readings where Mary became the New Eve that crushed the head of the serpent; the tormentor of God's children, & the entrusting of John into her maternal care; John being a symbol of the Church. She was there with the apostles on the Pentecost day & sojourned with some of them at Ephesus caring for them till her death in that ancient city of Asia Minor.

➕Let us continue to call on her, for in her protective hands we are safe & with her powerful intercessions the Church will triumph over all adversities. She does not leave her children unaided in moments of trials & the Church needs her efficacious prayers at this moment of many waves of persecution, lethal & doctrinal, assailing the Church. Let us listen to her! Without doubt, even before we realize the extent of the mess in which we are in any given ugly situation, she is always handy in obtaining solutions from her Son. Therefore, as she requested the stewards at the wedding at cana, let us be ever ready to do whatever her Son tells us (cf. Jn. 2:5).

🙏Let us pray: Heavenly Father, you crowned Mary Queen of heaven & earth, in her very proximity to you, hear all the prayers she offers on our behalf & defend your Church. Amen!

🙏We pray for all those who live in denial of Mary's powerful intercessions, may they realize the unnecessary loss they incur to themselves, & immediately take refuge in her motherly care. Amen!

🙇🏻‍♂️Our Lady Mother of the Church, pray for us!

🙌Through Mary our Mother we succeed!

05/24/2026

Sunday May 24, 2026. Pentecost Sunday, Year A
*(End of Easter Season)*

Red: ⛪ 🔥💥🌍👨‍👩‍👦‍👦🙏💪🏻

📖1st Reading: Acts. 2:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 104 🎺🎻🎷🎶 🎼 (R.v. 30) Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, & renew the face of the earth.

📖2nd Reading:
2Cor. 12:3-7.12-13

Alleluia! Alleluia!!

Sequence!!!

📖Gospel Reading: Jn. 20:19-23

Theme: *The Holy Spirit: Unity in diversity!*

🎤Reflection:

➕It was on a Jewish feast of Pentecost that the disciples filled with fear were praying when the Advocate descended on them in thongs of fire. Inflamed by this fire, they came out & started preaching the Good News to all the peoples gathered from different parts of the world and in their different languages. Each heard them in their own tongue & asked if they were not all Galileans?

➕The Gospel presents us with the apparition of Jesus to His disciples after His resurrection. With the words; 'Peace be with you.' He calmed down their fears. He breathed on them & they received the Holy Spirit with the accompanying power to forgive & retain sins.

➕Dearest brothers & sisters, in Christian tradition, Pentecost is the celebration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles & disciples of Jesus, who were gathered in the Upper Room. It marks the beginning of the Christian Church's mission to the world & the Birthday or Inauguration of the Church. Pentecost which means 50th, is the Greek translation of the Jewish festival; *_Shavuot_* a name that refers to the 50 days between Passover & Pentecost. Traditionally, it was a feast of thanksgiving for the first fruits of wheat harvest that usually attracted Jewish people from all over the world. It was later associated with a remembrance of the Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.

➕Gathered for this festival, the Holy Ghost manifested Himself significantly in the apostles & disciples of Christ that they broke out in strange languages that Jews & non-Jews from all parts of the world heard them clearly & distinctively each in his/her own native tongue. In this fashion, God demolished the wall of division among all peoples & built a bridge that would make them realize that though they are different in some respects, however, are united in one single bond of the Spirit. This bond of unity is the language of the Spirit. For the Holy Spirit speaks only one language, which is the *Language of Love.* Love is the only true yardstick for measuring the depth of the Spirit in us.

➕When we understand the Spirit's language, we will then realize that we must cooperate with one another in order to actualize our different potentials. In this interconnectivity, everybody is not only indispensable, but also adds a particular value to the community. The community therefore blossoms as a result, because the Holy Spirit gifts us with Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, & Fear of God, manifesting in the fruits of Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Patience, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, & Self-control. It is based on these fruits that the real possessors of the Holy Spirit are recognized!

➕On a day like this, the Church as a mother & teacher incisively interrogates us as her children: 1⃣Why are we so divided? 2⃣Why are we so alienated from each other? 3⃣Why do we find it very difficult to work together in any forum be it in the Church or community? 4⃣Why are other religions cashing into our disunity? & 5⃣Why do we rarely succeed in executing a common project as a body? Peter's eloquent & inspiring sermon activated by the power of the Holy Spirit, made so many once divided in understanding to be united in their diverse natures.

➕We can right these wrongs not by having this feeling of self-importance because of one special gift or the other we possess, but by realizing that the Spirit has caught us up in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny & that the success or failure of one is tied to all. Above all, whatever we think we have has its worth only in the community-building context, because the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of inclusivity, love, & unity in diversity.

➕Let us have a renewed & holistic interpretation of the gifts of the Spirit. This will help us to break down all barriers among us & build our communities with our variety of gifts. When we understand ourselves, then with our different gifts we can together build the body of Christ the Church, because Pentecost is the intentional universal effort to include everyone; Jews & non-Jews, into God's family. For in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another (Rm. 12:5).

🙏Let us pray: Come O Holy Spirit & fill the hearts of the faithful & enkindle in them the fire of your love. Renew the face of the earth. Amen!

🙏We pray for the renewal of the face of the earth so that hatred, bitterness & division will give way to love, peace, & unity. Amen!

😀Happy Pentecost Sunday!

🙌Receive the Holy Ghost!

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