In these days between Ascension and Pentecost we ask God to renew the gift of the Holy Spirit within us, not only for our own sakes but also for the world.  In the Gospel Jesus prays for his disciples that we may be united with each other in him so that the world may believe that he has in truth been sent by the Father.  He wants everyone to realise how much God loves them. 

St John sums up his vision at the close of the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) with these words: “The Spirit and the Bride [i.e. the Church] say ‘Come’.  Let everyone who listens answer, ‘Come’.  Then let all who are thirsty come; all who want it may have the water of life, and have it free.”  This challenge to communicate God’s love is expressed by the designation of this Sunday as ‘World Communications Day’. 

On this day, Catholics are encouraged to pray for all those professionals who work in Communications particularly for those who are responsible for communicating on behalf of the Catholic Church in this country.  It is also a challenge to all of us to invite those around us who are thirsty to drink with us from the water of life.