20 May 2020. Pentecost Sunday. Cycle A-2020. Acts 2:1-11 + 1Cor 12:3b-7,12-13 + Jn 20:19-23

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language” (Acts 2:4-6).

Peter was a fisherman who dealt with fish mostly, not much with men. Though he was not as eloquent, nor as charismatic as any megachurch pastor, he scored a much bigger conversion than any of them. How did he do it? What did he say? The Holy Spirit gave him a gift of tongue.

We are not often aware that our words, our actions, and our thoughts do change people. Outwardly the convert may not show sign of conversion, but the Holy Spirit is working deep in him. We should therefore not be discouraged that our efforts to evangelize might be ‘fruitless’ for, by these, we plant the seed of conversion that the Holy Spirit will nurture.

“Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your father speaking through you” (Mt 10:19-20).

The next time you yawn at the next homily, be aware that the Holy Spirit can convert through a boring pastor any yawning member of the congregation. VSS