United As One

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”  Acts 2:1-4

Have you seen a fire? A fire that consumes? A fire that not only consumes but gets out of your control? Kapag tayo’y nakakakita ng sunog, lalo na kung ito’y malapit-lapit sa ating tinutuluyan, Agad nating naiisip na isalba ang ating mga pamilya, ang ating mga naipundar, at mga mahahalagang dokumento na makakatulong sa ating pag bangon. Different shades of anger, rage, disbelief, and hopelessness fill our hearts and minds. At the same time, sinusubukan rin nating maging positibo. Ang bawat pamilya, magkakaibigan, magkakapitbahay ay nagtutulungan at nagkakaisa upang maagapan ang sitwasyon. In the Philippines, March is the month of Fire Prevention. A time to raise awareness. Dito, ang lahat ay inaasahang maki-isa sa paghahanda at mas maging maalam upang mapanatiling ligtas ang ating mga pamilya.

But did you know that back in the day of the apostles, forty days after the resurrection of Jesus, followers and believers of Jesus gathered to celebrate Pentecost as one family? When suddenly, a wind from heaven filled the entire place. Nagulat ang lahat sa lakas ng hanging naramdaman at may tila bagang mga apoy na nakapatong sa kani-kanilang mga ulo. Everyone was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Ang lahat ay nagsimulang magsalita ng iba’t ibang lenguahe. The people were praying. At kahit na iba’t-ibang lenguahe ang gamit ng bawat isa, people were praying in unity. At imbis na takot, pangamba, at kalungkutan ang maramdaman dala ng apoy na parang kumukunsumo sa kanila, saya, pananabik, at punong-puno ng pag-asa ang nanahan sa puso ng bawat isa.

In our devotion for today, we are reminded of what happens when people gather in unity. The presence of God dwells in our midst. Sa Presensya ng Diyos, may labis na kapahingahan, sayang di maunawaan, at galak na nagbibigay ng kapayapaan sa puso ng bawat isa. Know that the Lord desires to fill us with His presence. It is His desire to reveal himself to us in the most intimate way. Let us continue to be aware of His presence and experience the goodness of His great and flaming kind of love.

With your family, meditate on God’s goodness in your lives, pray in one accord, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal himself to all of you.