Reflection for Sunday May 24 Solemnity of Pentecost: John 20:19-23

Gospel: John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. 

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

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Reflection:

An old man once wondered how he could become more aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. He often found himself quietly murmuring, “I am already old, yet I still do not feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.” But this old man is not alone in his struggle, for many of us also go through life without recognizing that the Holy Spirit is already living and working within us.

What, then, is the secret for us to become more aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence? The key is a prayerful life—not an occasional or hurried prayer life, but a life faithfully rooted in daily prayer. Even if we begin with only five to ten minutes each day for prayer and meditation, the Holy Spirit can slowly open our hearts and minds to His gentle presence. Little by little, we begin to notice His guidance, His peace, His wisdom, and His quiet movements within our lives.

In our first reading, we see the disciples together with the Blessed Mother gathered in one place. What were they doing there? They were united in prayer (Acts 1:14). They waited upon the Lord with trusting hearts until the Holy Spirit descended upon them and filled them with His indwelling presence (Acts 2:1–4). Their prayer prepared their hearts to receive the transforming power of God.

The same thing happened in our Gospel. The disciples were gathered in one room, fearful and uncertain, yet they remained together in prayer. Then suddenly, Jesus appeared in their midst. He greeted them with peace, and afterward He breathed on them and gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of their fear, the Lord came to strengthen, comfort, and renew them.

Many times, we also carry fears, burdens, doubts, and uncertainties in our hearts. Yet the Holy Spirit continues to wait patiently for us to open our hearts through prayer. When we spend time with God, we begin to recognize that we are never alone. The Holy Spirit is quietly guiding us, strengthening us in our weaknesses, comforting us in our sorrows, and leading us closer to Jesus each day.

If we truly desire to become more aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit, there is no other way but to cultivate a faithful and prayerful life. As we draw closer to God in prayer, we become more open to receiving His gifts—Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, and Fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). These gifts help us live not according to our fears and weaknesses, but according to God’s grace and will.

Do we truly make time each day to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, or have we become too distracted and busy to recognize His presence quietly moving within our lives?— Marino J. Dasmarinas