Sunday is the great feast of Pentecost. We remember the day when the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles and filled them with divine power to continue the work that Jesus began. We will hear an account of this event in the first reading of Mass. Amongst other things it is noteworthy how the disciples, who up until now had been full of fear, are transformed and proclaim the message of the gospel with courage, zeal, and conviction.

But the story of Pentecost is our story too. We also have been filled with the Holy Spirit, notably in our confirmation. The same task has been given to us - to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. And, essentially, the same gift has been given to us in that - the Holy Spirit.

There are now incontrovertible signs within the Christian community that one way of being the Church, one sort of Church if you like, is rapidly coming to an end. It's very easy to find those who view this prospect with alarm and despair. What we need is Christians who rejoice in the challenge of forming a new sort of Church. On Sunday we will cry out 'Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, that the face of the earth be renewed!'. The Lord is prepared to do that - are we prepared to receive his gift and begin that renewal?

P.D.