Holy Spirit Seen and Heard

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today tells us of two of Jesus disciples, Peter and Mary Magdalene.

The impact of the events of Jesus Passover, passion and resurrection have changed these people. The text today from the Acts of the Apostles shows Peter at Pentecost, fifty days after the Resurrection, as a person transformed to speak boldly of the events of Jesus life while clearly identifying Him as the Messiah who fulfills the Promise of God to David. Peter proclaims that the power of the Holy Spirit is visible and audible to this audience as he tells of Jesus mission and His rising to life after death as One whom the prophets foretold would not be corrupted by death. The Gospel of Matthew was written to an audience of Jewish followers of Christ after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. A USCCB article on this Gospel explains it answers the question how obedience to the will of God is to be expressed by those who live after the “turn of the ages,” the death and resurrection of Jesus. The models of Peter and Mary Magdalene show us that fear is overcome by peace. This is the theme of the reflection of Maureen McCann Waldron today. We can use the season of Spring and the `Great Fifty Days`to seek the peace of our own Galilee to spend time with Jesus so our peace may be apparent in the witness we give through the power of the Holy Spirit.