Tomorrow is the great feast of Pentecost. The first Christian Pentecost was an international, multicultural event. People of many languages gathered to worship God. The Holy Spirit prompted the apostles to praise God publicly in other languages, and all the various groups of people understood them (Acts 2:6).
One reason for the great power and conversions at Pentecost was that many diverse people were gathered together (Acts 2:5-6). The Holy Spirit used the first Pentecost to unite people who had been separated. Since God is the same today as at the first Pentecost (Heb 13:8), He wants to bring the same unity.
Accordingly, God may want us to search out people not like ourselves with whom to spend our Pentecost, people of a different race, religion, or ethnic group. The Spirit didn't fill people individually and then bring them together after they were already converted. Rather, diverse people were gathered first, and then the Spirit miraculously brought unity (Acts 2:11).
Jesus will lead us toward Christian unity this Pentecost. Our business is to follow Him (Jn 21:22).
| PRAYER: | Father, may I make every effort to build unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force (Eph 4:3). |
| PROMISE: | "There are still many other things that Jesus did, yet if they were written about in detail, I doubt there would be room enough in the entire world to hold the books to record them." –Jn 21:25 |
| PRAISE: | St. Monica parish is truly catholic, multi-cultural, yet one in spirit. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College