By Silvia Holgado
June 3rd, 2022 - Pentecost Newsletter I Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
Photo showing the Cenacle (Upper Room) in Jerusalem
When last Pentecost Sunday a Christian in Jerusalem greeted me like this, I was somewhat confused. Seeing my expression, that good believer told me: Today we remember our birth! Today the Church was born! So, I smiled.
...the truth is that it was in a room in Jerusalem, where a group of men gathered around the Mother of a prophet, became the Universal Church.
Beyond the possible theological debates, the truth is that it was in a room in Jerusalem, where a group of men gathered around the Mother of a prophet, became the Universal Church.
The scriptural narrative reminds us that the apostles "were all gathered together in one place". This "place" is the Cenacle, which can be visited by pilgrims, the "large room on the upper floor" where Jesus had celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples, where he had appeared to them after his Resurrection. That place became the first site of the nascent Church
It is peaceful concord and prayer, which allows the soul to open itself to listening to the Holy Spirit, and this listening leads to the free and courageous action of the children of God to recount his wonders to all peoples...
However, rather than focus on the physical place, the sacred author wants to highlight the inner attitude of the disciples: they all persevered united in prayer. It is peaceful concord and prayer, which allows the soul to open itself to listening to the Holy Spirit, and this listening leads to the free and courageous action of the children of God to recount his wonders to all peoples, as Psalm 18 says, “a report goes forth through all the earth, their messages, to the ends of the world”. Perhaps this less hectic and more prayerful attitude, is what allows the Church today, and each one of the living stones within it- we believers- to listen to the Holy Spirit and let ourselves be moved by Him.