Pentecost Sunday, Year A, 24.05.2026

Acts 2:1-11 / 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13 / John 20:19-23  

The most basic human needs are often said to be food, clothing, and shelter.

And depending on the circumstances, it may or may not be in that order.

These are what is called the physiological needs, and when these needs are met, then we move up the hierarchy of needs.

But there is one fundamental need that is often taken for granted. 

To know what that need is, we just have to do this, and that is to just hold our breath.

Yes, we hold our breath and see how long we can hold it without breathing.

If we don’t breathe, or can’t breathe, or if there is no air to breathe, then we may last only for three to seven minutes.

That obviously tells us how critical and necessary breathing is, as well as the availability of clean fresh air.

Yet, we take breathing and air for granted, and we only realise the importance when we are deprived of it. 

Today as the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost, we reflect on the signs and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. 

From the Bible, we see five signs of the Holy Spirit. 

They are water, oil, fire, wind, and the bodily form of the dove. 

We see two of these signs, in the readings of today. 

In the first reading, there is a powerful wind from heaven, and then there were tongues of fire that appeared and rested on the heads of the disciples.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak foreign languages as the Holy Spirit gave them the gift of speech. 

And then in the Gospel, Jesus did something that was a unique reminder of the story of creation. 

Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” 

That act of Jesus recalled the creation of man when God blew into the nostrils of man and then man became a living being. 

Indeed, the Holy Spirit is Lord and the Giver of life, as we profess in the Creed.

And as we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, Jesus also breathes the Holy Spirit on us. 

It is a divine breath that blows away the dirt and the dust of sin and faults and failings from our hearts. 

It is a divine breath that blows a cooling and healing wind on the wounds that are hurting from sin and pain.

The simple act of Jesus breathing on His disciples and on us has a deep and profound meaning.

Because it is the divine breath of the gift of the Holy Spirit, the breath of life and love.

Yes, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on us so that we can be sent forth and be the breath of the Holy Spirit. 

Yes, we are to be the breath of the Holy Spirit for others.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, we are to be a good breath for others.

But a good breath can be turned into a bad breath. 

It is a bad breath that won’t go away by brushing teeth or with mouth wash.

When we have bad breath, it means that we are sick or that there is something that is not right

In the spiritual sense, we are talking about sin that causes decay, and corrupted our spiritual health. 

When that happens, we breathe the bad breath onto others. 

Out of our mouths comes the bad breath of foul and vulgar words, criticisms, condemnations, and all sorts of smelly rubbish. 

Even if we don't breathe that out, there is no fire of love in us. 

Cold tea and cold rice can be bearable, but cold looks and cold words are like bad breath. 

Today, on the Feast of Pentecost, Jesus breathes on us the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit heals the wounds of our sin and gives us life and love, and sends us forth with a divine breath. 

With that divine breath of the Holy Spirit, let us speak words that are kind and gentle, words that affirm and encourage. 

When words are spoken with the breath of the Holy Spirit, they will remain in the hearts of the listeners for a long time.

7th Week of Easter, Saturday, 23-05-2026

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 / John 21:20-25  

We are often told to look where we are going, so as to avoid accidents.

To say it in another way, it is also to go where we are looking.

As much as it is good to look where we are going, and to go where we are looking, we often do otherwise.

Because we may be walking in one direction, and then something else caught our attention.

So, we will be walking in one direction, and yet we are looking at another direction.

And in such moments, that is when accidents will happen.

Peter had earlier professed his love for Jesus, and he did it three times.

Jesus told him to follow Him. Then almost immediately, Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them.

Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

Jesus had to say to Peter, “What does it matter to you? You are to follow me.”

That would have brought Peter back into focus, and that is keep his eyes on Jesus and follow Him, and not to be distracted by other things or other people.

That would also remind us to look where we are going, and to go where we are looking.

Let us not be distracted by other things or other people, and keep our focus on Jesus and keep following Him.

7th Week of Easter, Friday, 22-05-2026

Acts 25:13-21 / John 21:15-19     

When bringing up an issue or a problem, it is best to follow procedures.

Even when filing a complaint, it is good to raise the issue or problem to the next level first.

That would show that we respect the procedures and the levels of organization.

In the 1st reading, the discussion was about St. Paul’s case.

The Roman governor Festus had thought that St. Paul was charged with some crime.

But upon further investigation, Festus realised that it was a religious issue and about Jesus whom St. Paul alleged to be alive.

Festus had wanted St. Paul to be tried in Jerusalem, which was the next level of investigation.

But St. Paul appealed for his case to be reserved for the judgement of the august emperor.

Obviously, that would mean Caesar, but St. Paul could have someone else in mind.

Because in St. Paul’s mind, the highest emperor and king would be none other than Jesus Christ.

For St. Paul, Jesus Christ is the Divine Judge, and his life was in the hands of the Divine Judge, and not any other judge on earth.

So, when we have a problem, or an issue, or a complaint, let us first turn to Jesus and put our case before Him.

When we commend our lives into the hands of Jesus, let us also let Jesus show us how to resolve problems, issues and even complaints.   

7th Week of Easter, Thursday, 21-05-2026

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 / John 17:20-26     

Being "caught between a rock and a hard place" is an idiom that means we are stuck in a very difficult situation where we must choose between two equally unpleasant, unfavorable, or risky options.

It is having to choose between the frying pan and the fire.

And it is in relationships that this often happens.

For example, it can happen when a man had to choose between listening to his wife or to his mother.

That is a situation that no man wants to be in.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul was freed by the tribune so that he can be brought before the chief priests and the Sanhedrin for questioning.

It was a situation that no one wanted to be in, especially having to face the big guns of the religious establishment.

But the Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul to see a crack in the beliefs between the Sadducees and the Pharisees, and he used it to his advantage.

Whenever we get caught between a rock or a hard place, or between the frying pan and the fire, let us turn to Holy Spirit who is our Advocate.

The Holy Spirit will see us through those difficult situations, so that we will bear witness to the wonderful and marvellous love of God for us.

7th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 20-05-2026

Acts 20:28-38 / John 17:11-19    

The greatest danger for a community or an organization is not a danger from the outside.

Dangers from the outside can be threatening and fearful.

But when the community or organization is united within, then the danger can be warded off.

But the greatest danger is from within the community or organization.

Because it is from within that traitors and betrayers may, and will arise, and that is what St. Paul is saying in the 1st reading.

And these traitors and betrayers will cause the greatest damage to the community or organization.

But why would some people become traitors and betray the unity of the community?

There can be many reasons but mainly it would be pride and selfishness.

They would break away from the truth and think that they are right.

They would tend to love themselves and also want others to love them.

Jesus said this in the gospel: I kept those you have given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost.

We belong to the faith community of the Body of Christ.

Jesus watches over us and protects us from the evil one and from the dangers of pride and selfishness.

Let us keep united in the truth and love of Jesus, and we will be at peace even in the face of dangers.

7th Week of Easter, Tuesday, 19-05-2026

Acts 20:17-27 / John 17:1-11  

It is difficult for us to imagine a life filled with misfortune and hardships.

If that is really the case, we would surely be moaning and groaning.

After all, what is there to look forward to, except to take one hit after another.

If we think that it is highly unlikely there would be such a person or such a life, then we may need to look again at the first reading.

After his conversion, St. Paul seemed to be going down the road of suffering, hardship and persecution.

He himself said that he had no idea what will happen to him when he goes to Jerusalem.

But the Holy Spirit had made it clear enough that imprisonment and persecution awaited him.

But St. Paul said this: Life to me is not a thing to waste words on, provided when I finish my race, I have carried out the mission the Lord Jesus gave me – and that is to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace.

By his life, and with his life, he witnessed to what he said about himself.

We may not have to face the suffering, hardships and persecution that St. Paul faced.

But by our life, and with our life, may we be like St. Paul, bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace.

7th Week of Easter, Monday, 18-05-2026

Acts 19:1-8 / John 16:29-33    

A fundamentalist is a person who strictly and literally adheres to a set of basic, foundational principles.

But that set of basic, foundational principles may just be a part of the whole picture.

So, to stick strictly and literally to those limited principles can cause problems and even troubles.

In other words, a little bit of knowledge can be rather dangerous.

In the gospel, the disciples could see that Jesus knows everything and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words.

And because of that they believed that Jesus came from God.

But Jesus warned them that though they believed that He came from God, their faith will be put to the test.

And their faith will be shaken and they will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving Jesus alone.

If the disciples’ faith can be shaken, so can our faith be shaken too.

We may say that we believe in Jesus, but when troubles come our way, we will find it difficult to keep believing.

For all that we say about what we believe in, let us also admit that our faith is not that strong.

It is only when we admit that we are weak, then Jesus who conquered the world will make us strong.