The fifty day celebration of Easter ends today with the great feast of Pentecost.  It is a day when we consider the transforming gift of the Holy Spirit in our own lives and in the life of the Church.  We give thanks for this gift given us by God.
            The events of the first Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, are described in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
            St. Paul describes the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the second reading.
            Finally, in the Gospel reading, St. John links Easter with the Holy Spirit.  The risen Jesus gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples and initiates the mission of the Church.

We move back into the ordinary cycle of the readings for year 1.  We turn to the New Testament and to the Letter of St. James. He stresses throughout his letter perseverance in the following of the newfound Christ and the importance of following the lifestyle laid down in the Gospels. He stresses the close link between faith in God and love of neighbour. In this first extract, we are told how perseverance will lead to spiritual maturity.
            The Pharisees are getting angry with Jesus and with their failure to catch him out. They cannot respond to his wisdom and his insights when they tackle him.  Now they decide they want a sign from him that he is the Messiah.

 Matthias was chosen as the successor to Judas.  As is so often the case, not too much is known about him.  Other than the story of his election, Matthias is not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament.  Tradition tells us he was martyred.

James gives us more practical advice that. If our relationship with Jesus is correct, we will not fall into the trap of main distinctions between people.  We will treat everyone with respect and with dignity.
            The Gospel presents us with Peter's great proclamation of faith, followed by his lack of understanding and even criticism of what Jesus was saying about himself.

James contrasts a dead faith with a living faith. The latter will involve actions and not just words. A live faith will be shown by its good deeds.
            Today Jesus talks about the conditions needed if we are to be true followers of his.  There will be a need to renounce ourselves and take up our cross daily.

Jesus teaches and warns about misusing the tongue. He sees the tongue as the guardian of the whole person. It is wrong to use the tongue to bless God on the one hand but curse our neighbour on the other.
            Some of the disciples are given a very unique experience.  They go up the mountain with Jesus and are given, through the transfiguration, a glimpse of the power and majesty of God.  This is done to strengthen their faith and themselves for what lay ahead of them as disciples.