Pentecost is often called the “Birthday of the Church.” The Church was already being formed during Christ’s public ministry, through his calling of the apostles and his teaching but the Church was made manifest to the world on Pentecost through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

As we make our final journey towards the great feast of Pentecost, may our ‘glory’ always be making Jesus’ presence a lived experience in our world by our words and deeds.

When people face persecution, hope, along with truth, is often one of the first casualties which is why hope in the face of death is deeply puzzling to many people.  But hope is the virtue that allows us to look to the future with confidence.

The apostles, this time represented by Thomas and Philip, are missing the point. They think that finding God involves some secret knowledge or access, but Jesus puts them right.