Pentecost Sunday
The Christian holiday of Pentecost is a moveable feast, which is celebrated on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) from Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–31).
The holiday is also called ‘White Sunday’ or ‘Whitsunday’ or ‘Whitsun’, especially in the United Kingdom, where traditionally the next day, Whit Monday, was also a public holiday (since 1971 fixed by statute on the last Monday in May). The Monday after Pentecost is a legal holiday in many European countries.
In Eastern Christianity, Pentecost can also refer to the entire fifty days of Easter through Pentecost inclusive; hence the book containing the liturgical texts is called the ‘Pentecostarion’. Since its date depends on the date of Easter, Pentecost is a ‘moveable feast’.
Pentecost is one of the Great feasts in the Eastern Orthodox Church, a Solemnity in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, a Festival in the Lutheran Churches, and a Principal Feast in the Anglican Communion. Many Christian denominations provide a special liturgy for this holy celebration.
– Wikipedia
Acts 2:1-11
1 Cor 12:3-7,12-13
Jn 20:19-23
“Peace be with you.“
The apostles are gathered in a locked room. It is quiet as they sit or stand alone. Each in his own head, not wanting to speak the confused thoughts. They are all filled with fear. They are all confused. They are all wounded, and some even ashamed. Can you imagine what they talked about? Since I have been watching THE CHOSEN, I can so easily picture them and even hear them, because the TV show has shown me common men with individual personalities, with strengths, weaknesses and flaws.) These men were distraught, each had given up – sacrificed – their entire life for their Saviour – and now their Saviour is dead, killed before their very eyes. I honestly don’t think any of us have any way of relating to this experience. These men, they were like sheep who had scattered and lost, not just sight but their very lives, yet they still had to go on living, SHEPERD-less. Lost. Empty. What was the main emotion in that room? Fear, anger, heartache? THEN, suddenly in their midst, Jesus appears speaking words of peace. Can you imagine the look in the eyes of Christ? Pure, welcoming, merciful love. And then Christ breathed on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is always in our midst, at our beckoning and at the command of God. And, on May 8, 2025 the Holy Spirit came to guide our church, filling one man in a way that few have ever experienced. When our new Universal Shepherd stepped out on the balcony, the world erupted in joyful celebration (and I believe the angels and saints in heaven joined in), eagerly awaiting his first words to us. And the words shared were certainly from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, “PEACE BE WITH YOU ALL!” In the first four sentences Pope Leo XIV spoke from that balcony to the world, our new Pope said, “Peace be with you” twice, just as Jesus twice said those words in today’s short gospel of five sentences.
I was intrigued (and thrilled) by the constant on-air coverage – from ALL the networks and streaming platforms. THE Church and our next Shepherd seemed to be all that mattered as the anticipation of WHITE SMOKE invaded the media. So many non-Catholics, non-Christians and even many of little to no faith were watching and asking questions and were excited for ‘the Catholics’, and the world.
And they should be.
But now the world has moved on to covering a multitude of other things, and Catholicism and Pope Leo XIV aren’t at the top of list to be covered 24/7 anymore.
But it should be. Souls are being saved or lost because of you and me. That is the command of Christ to each of us – to share the gospel. To explain the reason for our joy.
I believe we are at a time in history – even if it is only because it is the ONLY TIME in history we are here – that we are being called to pray for our Pope to listen only to God. To be so filled with the Holy Spirit that all his words and actions are in line with those of Christ. We must pray for Pope Leo XIV to be filled with the palatable peace of Christ at all times, filled with the needed wisdom to guide our Church, and the entire world, in a manner that honours all the saints before him, and is obedient to the will of the Father. Pope Leo XIV needs our daily prayers because the enemy is constantly working to destroy any, and every, big and small good that can be done at the hands of those who love God. This is the time we must step up in sharing our Catholic faith in word and deed. We must be a people ALIVE with the love, joy and goodness of God. We must not be afraid to LIVE our faith OUT LOUD.
His disciples received the Holy Spirit, and they cast fear aside, to share the gospel.
In that small locked room, and in a small room at the Vatican, the Holy Spirit breathed on men with the words we say at every Mass, ‘Peace be with you’. Both times, those words are being spoken to a confused world with a priority of self above others, a world broken with fear. A world that only Divine Love can ‘fix’.
It is Pentecost Sunday – a reminder of the past and a new beginning. “Peace be with you” – don’t let those be empty words merely recited once a week. Pray for our Pope and all the holy men and women who share the PEACE of CHRIST throughout their day.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)
Prayer: Lord God, we stand in Your glorious presence asking YOU to shine through us. May we be aware of Your PEACE; and may we pass it on every day, to all those you place in our path.
Thanksgiving: Thank You, Father God, for the gift of faith. Thank You, for giving us Your Peace. Thank You, for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
OXYGEN 
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