Dear Parishioners,
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, bestowed upon us at Pentecost, are interconnected and interdependent, working together to empower and transform us as disciples of Christ. Each gift serves a unique purpose, yet they harmoniously blend to form a symphony of divine grace within us. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. While some Christians accept these as a definitive list of specific attributes, others understand them merely as examples of the Holy Spirit’s work through the faithful. It’s easy to contend that one gift cannot exist without the other. Piety could be considered a result of understanding and fear of the Lord, also referred to as “wonder and awe.” Knowledge can be seen as the gateway to wisdom and understanding.
If knowledge truly is a gateway to the other gifts, then I wonder just how much knowledge we all have for the events of Pentecost. What happened to the disciples the day the noise came from the sky and “filled the entire house in which they were?” Our first reading (Acts 2:1-11), and the rest of chapter two from Acts of the Apostles provides us the facts of Pentecost, so here are a few trivia questions for you, to test your gift of knowledge:
In the Book of Acts, how many days after he ascended into Heaven did the disciples celebrate Pentecost?
a. Ten
b. One
c. Five
d. Three
When everyone was gathered in a room celebrating the feast, what sound did they hear, as described in Acts?
a. Fire Crackling
b. Children Laughing
c. Water Gurgling
d. Rushing Wind
What is the description of what happened to the disciples when the Holy Spirit entered them?
a. Fell Into a Deep Sleep
b. Spoke Different Languages
c. They Ate Lamb
d. They Began to Cry
What did Peter say would happen to those that call upon the Lord?
a. They Will Be Saved
b. They Will Dream Dreams
c. They Will See Jesus
d. The Lord Will Remember Them
Which of Jesus’ disciples stood up and spoke to the crowds?
a. James
b. Peter
c. Matthew
d. Thomas
Who was Peter describing as sitting at the right hand of God?
a. David
b. Moses
c. Solomon
d. Jesus
While speaking, what does Peter say would happen to the old men in the city?
a. Dream
b. Pour Out their Spirit
c. Prophecy
d. See Visions
What liturgical celebration or holiday does the Solemnity of Pentecost follow?
a. Easter
b. New Year’s
c. Christmas
d. Memorial Day
In what city did the first Pentecost celebration described in Acts take place?
a. Bethlehem
b. Nazareth
c. Jerusalem
d. Canaan
In Acts 2, what did God tell David would happen to his enemies?
a. David Would Kill Them
b. They Would Become his Friends
c. His Enemies Would Burn
d. They Would Be his Footstools
As we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, let us open our hearts to receive these gifts anew, allowing them to guide our thoughts, words, and actions. May we humbly embrace the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord, and may these gifts propel us towards holiness and an ever-deepening relationship with God.
Dear Heavenly Father, on this day over 2000 years ago, you inaugurated the Church by having the Holy Spirit indwell in your believers. We rejoice that you have allowed us, men and women, Jew, and Gentile, to experience new life. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, our comforter, our guide, and so many other things. And may we continue to celebrate this day until you return. Amen.
Peace and All Good,
Friar Henry
Answers: 1)Ten 2)Rushing Wind 3)They Spoke Different Languages 4)They Would Be Saved 5)Peter 6)Jesus 7)Dream 8)Easter 9)Jerusalem 10)Footstools
