Solemnity of Pentecost May 15, 2005 Scripture: Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23 Reflection: Receive the Holy Spirit—are these not powerful words in any language? And who is the Holy Spirit and what are we called to receive? The Spirit belongs to the Father and the Son—it is the love shared by each for the other. We know that the Spirit has no personal name and no new message for us. We also know that we do not possess the Holy Spirit but the Spirit possesses us. And yes, we are called to receive the Holy Spirit! The tragedy of the Tsunami is today and will be for a long time in our thoughts and in our prayers. When we first heard the news, many of us ran to our atlas to locate the area of the disaster and a few of us weren’t even aware of the word Tsunami. We wanted somehow to understand the complexity of the situation and the reality of the plight of so many. People from all over the world , possessed by the Spirit, are reaching out in compassion for their brothers and sisters many thousands of miles away. This calamity can and will bring people closer to each other. I believe that the Spirit is alive and well in our world. Suggested Action: Be attuned to the workings of the Holy Spirit in each person you meet daily and share the gifts you have received. Sr. St. Monica Costello, IHM Scranton, Pennsylvania