杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

鈥淭oday, the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Gospel takes us to the upper room, where the apostles had taken refuge after the death of Jesus,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis greeting pilgrims and faithful in St. Peter鈥檚 Square.

how on the evening of Passover the Risen One presented himself to the disciples who were in a situation of fear and anguish.

鈥淏reathing on them,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 added, Jesus says: 鈥淩eceive the Holy Spirit鈥�.

The gift of the Spirit

With the gift of the Spirit, the Holy Father explained, Jesus wished to free the disciples from fear so they were able 鈥渢o go out and become witnesses and proclaimers of the Gospel.鈥�

Referring to the reading from the Gospel according to John, he explained that the disciples had closed the doors 鈥渇or fear鈥�. They were shocked by Jesus鈥� death and their hopes had vanished. Thus, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥渢hey closed themselves inside.鈥�

鈥淗ow often do we too shut ourselves in?鈥� he asked, because of a difficult situation, or personal problem, or because of 鈥渁 suffering that marks us or the evil we breathe around us,鈥� we risk slipping into hopelessness and lack the courage to go on.

This 鈥渟hutting ourselves in鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, happens when, in the most difficult situations, we allow fear to take the upper hand.

As a reaction, 鈥渢he doors of the heart close, as when an alarm goes off inside a building,鈥� he noted.

Reflecting on how fear of not being able to cope, of having to face difficulties alone, of undergoing disappointments and of making the wrong decisions blocks and paralyses us, 杏MAP导航 Francis said it also isolates us.

鈥淭hink of the fear of others, of those who are foreign, who are different, who think in another way. And there can even be the fear of God: that he will punish me, that he will be angry with me鈥� If we give space to these false fears, the doors close: those of the heart, of society, and even the doors of the Church!鈥� he said.

The remedy of the Risen One

But then he reassured those present saying that 鈥渢he Gospel offers us the remedy of the Risen One: The Holy Spirit.鈥�

鈥淗e frees us from the prisons of fear,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, explaining that the feast of Pentecost that we celebrate today shows how, 鈥淲hen they receive the Spirit, the apostles come out of the upper room and go out into the world to forgive sins and to proclaim the good news.鈥�

The Spirit makes us feel God鈥檚 proximity

It is the Spirit, the 杏MAP导航 continued, who makes us feel God鈥檚 proximity.

鈥淗is love casts out fear, illuminates the way, consoles, sustains in adversity,鈥� he said.

The 杏MAP导航 concluded asking those present to invoke the Holy Spirit 鈥渇or us, for the Church and for the whole world: let a new Pentecost cast out the fears that assail us and revive the flame of God鈥檚 love.鈥�