Pentecost Sunday, Year A

Today is the Feast of Pentecost. It occurred ten days after Jesus Christ's ascension. This feast day celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples while they were praying. After receiving the Holy Spirit, the disciples traveled the world, spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ. Because of this, Pentecost came to be considered the birthday of the Church.

The word "church" comes from the Greek word "ekklesia," meaning "a gathering of people who have been called together." While we often associate "church" with a "place" or "building," its original meaning is a much more dynamic, vibrant, and life-affirming "assembly." Therefore, the original meaning of the Church is not a "building" or a "place." Isn't it a word that refers to each and every one of us here? The Church became necessary as a "building" or "place" so that we, who are here, could "gather" appropriately.

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As you may have already noticed, Ehomachi Catholic Church has a "prayerful atmosphere" to me. I think that's wonderful. Therefore, when someone asks you what the characteristics of this church are, I would be happy if you could proudly reply, "Ehomachi Catholic Church is a church of prayer."
To make Ehomachi Catholic Church feel even more like a "church of prayer," we would like to work together to implement the following. It's not difficult, but it's really hard to say. Let's refrain from chatting inside the church. That's all. If you absolutely must talk before, during, or after Mass, the most appropriate place is the church entrance or the parish hall. Inside the church, it's only for "conversation with God."
The first Pentecost was an event where "the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples while they were praying." What I want you to pay attention to is "while the disciples were praying."

Catholic Ehomachi Church is "a place to keep the light in our hearts burning." By cherishing this light, it grows bigger and stronger. In this way, we can live with courage, and without being overwhelmed by the despair that constantly assails us, we can trust that there is a spiritual power there that sustains us.
"Peace be with you," it says in today's Gospel. When Saint John Paul II visited Hiroshima, he left these words: "To look back on the past is to take responsibility for the future. To think of Hiroshima is to reject nuclear war. To think of Hiroshima is to take responsibility for peace. Remembering the suffering of the people of this city leads to the restoration of trust in humanity, to believe in humanity's capacity for good deeds, in humanity's free choice regarding justice, and in humanity's determination to transform ruins into a new starting point. In the face of the man-made disaster that is war, we must remind ourselves and repeatedly reflect on the fact that "war is neither inevitable nor necessary."
One way for everyone to achieve peace is "to build bridges for one another on a daily basis." Unfortunately, in our daily lives, don't we often build walls rather than bridges for each other?

For those of us here, isn't the "bridge" itself "prayer"? Prayer is more than a formality; it's a fundamental attitude in life. In other words, we can pray not only with words, but also with our actions. Jesus says, "Pray always" (Luke 18:1). So, let's embark on this week's journey keeping in mind Jesus' teaching to pray constantly in our lives.