A Strong Driving Wind

On Sunday, I went to the 10 a.m. Mass at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle on Manhattan’s West Side. It was the final liturgy together for this year’s parish RCIA group, for which I was blessed to serve as a "welcomer" and sponsor.

The Mass for Pentecost Sunday, the final day of the Easter Season, was celebrated by Fr. Brett Hoover, C.S.P.

Pentecost is a day of reflecting on, and invoking, the Holy Spirit. The first reading included this account from Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2:

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

For reflections on Pentecost, go to A Concord Pastor and Fran.

Flashbacks: Pentecost Sundays 2009, 2008 and 2007.

The painting above is by Emil Nolde.