Homiletics of the Fathers of The Island of Patmos

- homiletics -

THE MYSTERY OF PENTECOST: «BEAUTY IS JUST THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FALLEN DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT THAT HAS COME OUT OF IT»

«While the day of Pentecost was taking place, they were all together in the same place. A thunder suddenly came from heaven, almost a wind that blows impetuously, and filled the whole house where they were " [At 2,1].

.

Author:
Gabriele Giordano M. Scardocci, o.p.

.

.

PDF print format article
.

.

.

AUDIO READING OF THE ARTICLE

The Fathers de The Island of Patmos they have included in all the articles the audio-reading for the use of the readers affected by those disabilities that prevent the reading, at the same time providing a useful service also to those who, traveling and unable to read, can easily take advantage of the audio-reading

.

.

.

Dear brothers and sisters,

stained glass window of the eighteenth century: The Holy Spirit

we close the long Easter period and the Marian month with the Pentecost feast. It is the descent of the Holy Spirit, as we know, on the Apostles and Disciples, therefore on all of us as Church. Of this beautiful bond between the Spirit and the Church, mother of all saints, Alessandro Manzoni wrote in his hymn The Pentecost:

.

'Mother of ’Santi, image of the supernal city / of the incorruptible eternal conservative blood / You who, for many centuries / You suffer, fight and pray / that your tents unfold / from one to the other "

.

These eternal verses by Manzoni they introduce us to a meditation on today's readings, of Pentecost as a life-giving mystery of prayer, communion and mission. Starting from the first reading where we read:

.

«While the day of Pentecost was taking place, they were all together in the same place. A thunder suddenly came from heaven, almost a wind that blows impetuously, and filled the whole house where they were " [At 2,1].

.

This being closed inside recalls our experience of quarantine lived in the period March-April last. If we imagine the scene, we see that the apostles are praying - during the Jewish Pentecost - closed in and the Spirit breaks out in the form of tongues of fire. Enter the hearts of the apostles who begin to speak all the languages ​​then known. The Holy Spirit / Love enters their hearts through prayer and this allows them to speak the universal language, world of love that knows no ethnic and cultural distinctions. Here, then, also for us the importance of prayer as an opening to a different gaze capable of re-reading the daily events that happen to us from a high and contemplative perspective.

.

From the Pentecost prayer, then communion with God and neighbor comes. Indeed, St. Paul writes:

.

«Nobody can say« Jesus is Lord!», if not under the action of the Holy Spirit. There are several charisms, but only one is the Spirit; there are several ministries, but only one is the Lord » [1 Color 12, 3-4].

.

The Holy Spirit comes to Pentecost and gives us communion, as a unity in distinction. In fact, we all have a call to holiness, in which the Spirit helps to make us saints. This being united, does not remove the distinction in one's identity, to one's vocation and charismatic gifts; indeed it also indicates that the Lord created us unique and unrepeatable, with our talents, virtuosity and specialties and that we put them at the service of others, they become a moment of human and spiritual growth. At the same time, in being in communion with each other we recognize that Jesus is God in the profession of faith in the exercise of works of mercy, where we see Jesus in the poor needy. From this then it indicates that Pentecost is prayer and communion in view of a mission. Jesus says:

.

"Peace be with you."! As the Father sent me, I send you too ". Said this, he blew and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. To those to whom you will forgive sins, will be forgiven; to those you won't forgive, they will not be forgiven "» [GV 20,21].

.

That blew in the Greek original would be "begotten the Spirit in them". So how the Eternal Father sends the Son and today the Holy Spirit, also send us grafted into them to continue this mission of propagation of the Truth and Forgiveness of sins. On one side, this forgiveness of sins recalls the Sacrament of Penance, entrusted to bishops and priests. On the other, It is important to note that God sends all the people of God to announce that forgiveness of sins is regeneration from a deep darkness, an exit from a state of isolation and distance from God.

.

The poet Alda Merini wrote: «Beauty is nothing but the unveiling of a fallen darkness and the light that came out of it».

.

We ask the Lord to be sent to Pentecost to show how great the embrace of the Trinitarian God is, to be ourselves that gift of beauty that spreads the light of the Risen Jesus.

So be it.

Rome, 31 May 2020

Solemnity of Pentecost

.

.

.

.

Staff Blog

Father Gabriele

.

.

Visit the pages of our book shop WHO and support our editions by purchasing and distributing our books.

.

News from the Dominican Province Roman: visit the official website of the Dominicans, WHO

.

.

«You will know the truth and the truth will set you free» [GV 8,32],
but bring, spread and defend the truth not only of
risks but also the costs. Help us supporting this Island
with your offers through the secure Paypal system:

payable to Editions The island of Patmos

IBAN IT 74R0503403259000000301118
in this case, send us an email warning, because the bank
It does not provide your email and we could not send you a
thanks [ isoladipatmos@gmail.com ]

..

.

.