Readings and homily for 31/05/2020 are as below:
Homily
PENTECOST SUNDAY
Today is Pentecost (Whitsunday) often called the Churches Birthday – the day when it really sprang to life made ready for the mission of taking the Good News to the ends of the earth. While the mighty wind which shook the house where the disciples were soon grew still and the flames of fire which hovered over them soon disappeared but the Holy Spirit whose coming was announced by wind and fire came to stay with the Church until the end of time to become its very soul and that same Holy Spirit never grows old.
Today’s Mass readings show how the Spirit blesses the Church by bestowing through the Holy Spirit various gifts or charisms for the common good. The same Holy Spirit who gives the rich diversity of gifts in the Church also gives the gift of unity many gifts – but the same spirit all kinds of service but the same Lord- all sorts of different people- the same God working in all.
An early Christian writer writing on the effects of Holy Communion said whoever eats the bread of the Mass with faith at the same time eats the fire of the Holy Spirit. At this difficult time with closed Churches – me saying Mass with empty pews we all conscious of the Holy Spirit evident in maintaining our unity even when we are separated and while we pray, worship serve as best we can under the restrictions we are living with we still pray that same Holy Spirit which through the Apostles set the world on fire with the Good News of Jesus will still through us in these days continue to renew the face of the earth.
Today I think of those wonderful words of the hymn sung to the equally beautiful Welsh Tune YR HUN GAN which was sung at my Induction here in 2016 and i think of particular today as we Remember Father Mark on this his first Sunday in his new Parishes.
Holy Spirit, gift bestower
Breathe into our hearts today
Flowing water, dove that hovers, Holy Spirit, guide our way.
Love inspirer, joy realeser,
Spirit, take our fears away.
Reconciler peace restorer,
Move among us while we pray.
Holy Spirit, Christ proclaimer
Wisdom bringer, light our way.
Fire that dances, wind that whispers , Holy Spirit come today.
Ease disturber, comfort bearer move among us while we pray.
Truth revealer faith confirmer,
Rest within our hearts today.
Father Paul
Take care and stay safe.
