May 23, 1999 |
Pentecost Sunday, which culminates the Easter Season, is a glorious day in which we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary in the Upper Room where they gathered in fear. They were transformed into courageous witnesses to the Faith, and from that upper room eventually went out to all parts of the earth to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is for this reason that Pentecost Sunday is called the Birthday of the Church. The Church, as the Body of Christ, on this day, became the visible presence of the Risen Lord in the world. Each of us, as members of that Body of Christ, participates in that role of witnessing to, and building up the Kingdom of God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes that The Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era in the 'dispensation of the mystery' - the age of the Church, during which Christ manifests, makes present, and communicates his work of salvation through the liturgy of his Church, 'until he comes again.' In this age of the Church, Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age. He acts through the Sacraments in what the common Tradition of the East and the West calls 'the sacramental economy'; this is the communication (or 'dispensation') of the fruits of Christ's Paschal Mystery in the celebration of the Church's 'sacramental' liturgy.
This is a day to reaffirm our Faith in its fullness, and to be grateful and celebrate the 2000+ years of Tradition: Life, Teaching, and Worship. And, we need to be proud of both our local Church, and Universal Church...proud and grateful to be part of the Body of Christ, the Catholic Church. And, rather than find fault or be negative (as is the culture in which we live) that to know despite human weakness and failings over the years, Christ is still with us, as He promised, living with us, and speaking to us in Word and Worship, especially in the Eucharist.
This Sunday we celebrate one of the most significant feasts of the Church year - Pentecost - the feast that commemorates the birthday of the Church - the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church. At all the Sunday liturgies our members will be invited to come forward to be anointed on their foreheads with blessed oils- a symbol and reminder of the anointing we received at Baptism and Confirmation. At the 9:00 a.m. Mass new Stephen Ministers will be commissioned and at all the Masses Stephen Ministers will serve by being ministers of the anointing with blessed oil, praying over each person who comes forward - May the Spirit of God be in you. Again it is a wonderful opportunity, following our Novena to the Holy Spirit, to renew being baptized with the Holy Spirit (Mk 1:8).
In the Liturgy of the Hours Office of Readings for the week before Pentecost the Church gives wonderful readings about the intended transformation brought by the ever deepened release of the Holy Spirit. Here are some sample excerpts. From the Spirit comes foreknowledge of the future understanding of the mysteries of faith, insight into the hidden meaning of Scripture, and other special gifts. Through the Spirit we acquire a likeness to God; indeed, we attain what is beyond our most sublime aspirations - we become God.
It can easily be shown from examples both in the Old Testament and the New that the Spirit changes those in whom the Spirit comes to dwell; The Spirit so transforms them that they begin to live a completely new kind of life. Saul was told by the prophet Samuel: The Spirit of the Lord will take possession of you, and you shall be changed into another man. Saint Paul writes: As we behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, that glory, which comes from the Lord who is Spirit, transforms us all into his own likeness, from one degree of glory to another. (Treatise to the Holy Spirit-St. Basil)
As Jesus filled the disciples with his Holy Spirit that Sunday night, he will come also to us, providing we have made room for him in our lives.
Like the disciples going to the upper room, we must go to a place where Jesus can appear to us. Such a place might be at our church, but it could just as well be the silence of our heart. Wherever it is, there we must wait in joyful hope for his coming.
As we wait, we must clear our minds to receive the Holy Spirit. Hearts that are full of other wants and desires are like busy schedules with no time left to receive visitors. We must make room in our hearts for the Holy Spirit.
Once filled with the Spirit, we, like Thaddeus, may be asking the life-changing question: What do we do now? (Gospel Stories-Celebration May)
New Direction
How often do I have to stop
and turn around
because I can't go on
with my empty actions.
When turning I notice
Fear and happiness.
Because turning around means:
To turn away from my dreams
To discern the illusions among my ideas
To become free.
Turning around means:
To meet again
That which I left behind me long ago
Which I thought I had mastered.
Turning around means:
To suddenly meet new people,
To be confronted by unusual situations,
To give up false obligations.
Turning around means:
To see tracks of my own life,
To change direction,
To take a path that will lead on.
Greater Than Our Hearts, Ulrich Schaffer
Our First Communion class learned that there are four parts to the Mass:
Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Concluding Rite. The Introductory Rites are a gathering time for us to come together and be joined in union with our Lord and one another. They include: the Entrance, the Veneration of the Altar and Greeting, the Penitential Rite, the Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) and the Gloria. They conclude with the Opening Prayer or Collect. The Liturgy of the Word is when we need to LISTEN, to join in the chants between the readings and pay attention to the homily given by a priest or deacon. We stand and recite together our Profession of Faith (Nicene Creed) and join together in prayer in the General Intercessions or Prayers of the Faithful. In the ancient Church all that were not able to receive Holy Communion were sent out at this point to join in a group for catechesis, scripture sharing and prayer. They returned to the assembly for the Concluding Rite. Imagine how awesome it must have been to experience the Mass this way.
The second half of the Mass includes the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rite. The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the Preparation of Gifts and contains the Eucharistic Prayer and Communion Rite. The Communion Rite itself has the Lord's Prayer, the Sign of Peace, the Breaking of the Bread (Fraction Rite) during which we sing or say the Lamb of God, the reception of Holy Communion, followed by a period of silence and ending with a Prayer after communion. The Concluding Rite has a Greeting and a Blessing and ends with the Dismissal. The whole Mass came to be named from the Latin words of this dismissal, Ite Missa Est. We are thus sent forth into the world to live the love and service of the Lord.
My dear family in Christ,
We pray today: "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love." As the apostles were filled with the Spirit, they boldly proclaimed the Good News. All who heard them understood them in their native language.
This same Spirit is with us and invites us to renew and deepen our commitment to live the message and person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We can take heart in the belief and conviction that we realize this by being Church; those who are called through Baptism. For on Pentecost, we celebrate the birth of the church as the people who find their strength in the one Spirit.
The great gift that is ours is that God does not leave us to our own resources, but empowers us in His Spirit. It is much easier to just say this; but much more challenging to live it.
In our local parish, we have a tremendous opportunity to share the wonders of God that the Spirit gives us. Let us pay attention to Paul's words from I Cor. 12:7, "To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." I would like to emphasize common good. The Spirit calls us beyond ourselves to cooperate with all in the work of justice, peace and the value of each person. We are to deepen our sense of responsibility to our brothers and sisters since we have become one in the Spirit.
Pentecost, then, is not a matter of recalling the radical changes that took place that morning in Jerusalem. It is a reawakening of the Spirit's abiding presence in our lives and in our community.
May you truly feel the Holy Spirit this day of the Church.
Fr. Ron
There is so much hype about the new movie, "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." I was amused by a cartoon in the New Yorker last week. It had a Starbucks Coffee store changed into a "Starwarbucks." It served Princess Leia Cake, Obi-Wan Cannoli, Yoda-Pop, Tart Vader, R-2 Decaf, Flan Solo, and Java the Hutt.
Today is Pentecost and a good day to remind ourselves that we have within us a greater power than "The Force." We have the Holy Spirit. It took Luke Skywalker three movies to recognize that he had "the Force" within him. How long will it take you to realize you have the Holy Spirit? Do you ask for His guidance in all that you do?
May the Holy Spirit help each of us to carry out our calling with confidence, with courage, and with commitment!
This is a cry of tremendous love, hope, expectation and desire: and one that might well unnerve us, depending upon how seriously we take it. What would happen to us, what would be expected of us, what would be possible from us, if the fire fell on us?
When the Spirit grabs hold of you, you aren't going to be let go. The Spirit will walk with you, lead you, and literally in-spire you. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me," Jesus read in Isaiah 61 when He preached in the synagogue at Nazareth. "He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, liberty to captives...and a year of favor from the Lord." But we are the Body of Christ through our baptism, and so we are commissioned for the same ministry. Are we ready?
People should demand the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are rightfully theirs as Christians. They should claim the power of wisdom, counsel, understanding, fortitude, knowledge, piety & fear of the Lord. But gifts are never given to be kept-they must be used and shared. Are we willing?
"The Spirit we have received is no cowardly Spirit," we read (II Timothy 1:7), "but rather one that makes strong, loving and wise." He will be with us always (Matthew 28:20), and will pray within us and for us, helping us remember that if God is for us, no one can effectively be against us (Roman 8:26-39). See? God tells us, "With Me, you are able!"
We celebrate the birthday of the Church today. Let's embrace the gifts that come with birthdays and make it a real celebration. Let the fire fall!!
1. ACTS 2:1-11.
The first coming of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of those who believed in Jesus as their saving Lord is recounted in today's first reading. Tongues of fire, a great wind and the enthusiasm of speaking in foreign languages all accompanied the coming. The gift of the Spirit summarizes the purpose of Jesus' mission and the universality of the Church. The Church guided by the Holy Spirit is born!
APPLICATION: The Holy Spirit speaks all languages and is the source of all gifts, making us one Body in Christ. We can all hear the Gospel and live in love, unity and peace.
2. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:3-7, 12-13.
St. Paul explains that there is only one Holy Spirit. No matter what gifts we have we belong to the same body. All of us are given new vision, new understanding and deeper faith.
APPLICATION: Each of us is gifted with special talents and tasks which together build up the Church and hasten the reign of God in the world. There are many ways of serving, but it is the same Lord.
3. JOHN 20:19-23.
In the Gospel we hear the first greeting of Jesus to his Disciples after the Resurrection. He gives them the promised Spirit to carry on the work of salvation.
APPLICATION: The Church is us, but it is not ours. Our responses to the call of Christ are countless, but there is only one call to holiness and eternal happiness.
Fr. Eugene R. Sinz
Fill the hearts of your faithful people and fill them once again with the seven-fold gift of your presence.
Give them the gift of wisdom so that they can see with your eyes, hear with your ears, think with your mind, feel with your heart.
Give them the gift of understanding so that they can experience and judge life from the point of view of other people.
Give them the gift of counsel so that they can share the story of their faith and thereby strengthen their fellow parishioners.
Give them the gift of fortitude so that they may stick to the task of living their faith and sharing the Gospel whether convenient or inconvenient.
Give them the gift of knowledge so that they can read the signs of the times and figure out how to respond in faith.
Give them the gift of piety so that they can be true friends with you whether in prayer or in a good moral life.
Give them the gift of fear of the Lord so that they can respond to your presence in church, at home, and on the street.
May these gifts bring about in our parish true conversion, honest community-building, and effective evangelization.
May our response to your gifts bear fruit in our lives with an abundance of charity, joy, and kindness, patience, peace, and purity of heart, goodness, generosity, and gentleness, meekness, self-control, and faithfulness.
This we ask of you, Spirit of God, in the name of Christ Jesus for the honor and glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Christ sent the Holy Spirit from the Father to exercise inwardly his saving influence, and to promote the spread of the Church.
Without doubt, the Holy Spirit was at work in the world before Christ was glorified. On the day of Pentecost, however, he came down on the disciples that he might remain with them forever; on that day the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the Gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun.
Finally, on that day was foreshadowed the union of all peoples in the catholicity of the faith by means of the Church of the New Alliance, a Church which speaks every language, understands and embraces all tongues in charity, and thus overcomes the dispersion of Babel.
The acts of the apostles began with Pentecost, just as Christ was conceived in the Virgin Mary with the coming of the Holy Spirit and was moved to begin his ministry by the descent of the same Holy Spirit, who came down upon him while he was praying.
Before freely laying down his life for the world, the Lord Jesus organized the apostolic ministry and promised to send the Holy Spirit, in such a way that both would be always and everywhere associated in the fulfillment of the work of salvation.
Throughout the ages the Holy Spirit makes the entire Church one in communion and ministry; and provides her with different hierarchical and charismatic gifts, (LG 4) giving life to ecclesiastical structures, being as it were their soul, and inspiring in the hearts of the faithful that same spirit of mission which impelled Christ himself. He even at times anticipates apostolic action, just as in various ways he unceasingly accompanies and directs it.
(Vatican II, Ad Gentes, 4)
Celebrate 2000...
Reflections on Jesus, The Holy Spirit, and the Father,
by Pope John Paul II.
Marriage, Sign of Christ's Love for the Church Christ's love is the source and the foundation of the love uniting...spouses. It should be stressed that true conjugal love is meant [here], and not mere spontaneous impulse. Today sexuality is often exalted to the point of obscuring the profound nature of love. Certainly, sexual life too has its own genuine value, which can never be underestimated, but it is a limited value that is an insufficient basis for the marriage union, which by its nature depends on total personal commitment.
Every sound psychology and philosophy of love is in agreement on this point. Christian teaching also emphasizes the qualities of the individuals' unitive love and casts a higher light on it, raising it-by virtue of a sacrament-to the level of grace and of sharing in the divine love of Christ. Along these lines St. Paul says of marriage: This is a great mystery (Ephesians 5:32), in reference to Christ and the Church. For the Christian, this theological mystery is at the root of the ethics of marriage, conjugal love, and sexual life itself: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her (Eph 5:25).
Grace and the sacramental bond enable conjugal life, as a sign of and share in the love of Christ the bridegroom, to be a way of holiness for Christian spouses and at the same time to be an effective incentive for the Church to invigorate the communion of the love that distinguishes her. [TPS 40/1, 1995, 27-28]
FOR SAFETY'S SAKE
(Submitted by a 7th grader)
Do not ride in automobiles: they are responsible for 20% of fatal accidents. Do not stay home: 1% of all accidents occur in home. Do not walk on the streets or sidewalks: 14% of all accidents occur on pedestrians. Do not travel by air, rail, or water: 16% of all accidents happen on these. Only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Hence the safest place for you to be at any time is at church!!!
