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Pentecost |
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Dear Preachers:
That’s a question we often ask when we're impatient and eager to move forward. After all, who likes to wait?
Jesus was about to leave his disciples, and they feared they would be left on their own. If their behavior during the days leading up to Jesus’ death was any indication, their track record without him was not promising. Now, Jesus was sending them out into the world to bear witness to him. But considering how the world had treated Jesus, what chance did the disciples have of faithfully fulfilling his command? They were in desperate need of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus had promised to send.
The disciples had no real choice – they had to wait for the help Jesus assured them would come:
"Wait for the fulfillment of my Father’s promise, which you have heard me speak of" (Acts 1:4).
At this point, I pause and reflect on my own journey of discipleship. How have I done? I am grateful for the times I have lived out my vocation as a baptized Christian – when I spoke out against falsehood, helped someone in need, defended the oppressed, sheltered the vulnerable, protected the abused, and so on. I could not have done any of that without the gift of the Holy Spirit, which I received at baptism. In light of the many challenges facing our church, our nation, our world, and our families, we are in dire need of a renewal in the Spirit of Jesus. He promised to be with us as we struggle to remain faithful in these new and often confusing times.
Today we celebrate Pentecost!
Our reading from Acts is full of energy and excitement. Despite their fears, their troubles, and the absence of Jesus, the disciples were not forgotten by God. There’s the sound of a strong wind, tongues of fire descending and resting on each of them, and the miraculous speaking in new languages. There is no doubt that something momentous is taking place: the wind is roaring, the fire blazing– God is transforming the disciples and giving birth to the Church. The Holy Spirit gathers them into a community of mutual support and challenge.
All this happens during a major international gathering in Jerusalem. Jews had come to celebrate the feast of Pentecost – Shavuot, which occurs 50 days after Passover. Christian Pentecost, when the Spirit descends on the disciples, takes place 50 days after Easter. With this gift of the Spirit, God forms the Church, the new people of God, and empowers believers to live according to God’s will – not by laws written on stone tablets, but inscribed on human hearts.
Each of today’s readings invites us to reflect on our role in the community. None describe the Spirit as a private or isolated experience. Paul makes this clear with his image of the body:
"As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ."
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. But he doesn’t leave us on our own to do so. Knowing the human condition, he promises the Spirit will teach and remind us of what we need. Our love for Christ keeps us open to receiving the Spirit.
As we reflect on our own lives, we recognize that God is not finished with us yet. There is still more to be done to complete God’s work in us. That is what we anticipate and celebrate today: the Spirit dwells within us, enabling us to hear God’s word and live it out.
"The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."
Many of us "old-timers" in the faith are saddened by the number of people who have drifted away – or left the Church altogether. We notice others whose names remain on parish registries, but who are seldom present among us. Those who leave offer many reasons: uninspiring homilies, haphazard music, a lack of reverence, frequent fundraising appeals, disagreements with Church teachings on social issues, the exclusion of women, and more.
Do we, the Church, lack the fire of those early believers we read about today? The Gospel made a real difference in their lives. Belonging to the community gave them vitality and a shared sense of purpose. So, what are we waiting for? On this Pentecost, we pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit – one that will set our communities ablaze with a fire that draws others by its warmth and light.
No one is suggesting we abandon our responsibilities and sit idly by, "waiting on the Lord." We have already received the gift of the Spirit and have been sent to proclaim the Risen Christ through word and action. Yet, there remains a longing within us– a kind of spiritual yearning that rises in the quieter moments of our lives, when we pause to catch our breath. You might call it "waiting."
In this, we stand with our Jewish ancestors and with Jesus’ first followers. We are waiting and groaning. A quick look around – at the world, the Church, and our personal lives – reminds us that even as we stay busy doing the Lord’s work, we are still waiting:
Waiting for an end to the world’s suffering, Waiting for healing in our broken Church, Waiting for reconciliation in our divided families, Waiting for restoration in a wounded creation. And so, we pray with hopeful longing: "Come, Holy Spirit." Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060825-Day.cfm
In Memory of Pope Francis Let us ask the Lord for the grace not to hesitate when the Spirit calls us to take a bold step forward. Let us ask for the apostolic courage to share the Gospel with others and to stop trying to make our Christian life a museum of memories. In every situation may the Holy Spirit cause us to contemplate history in the light of the risen Jesus. In this way, the Church will not stand still, but constantly welcome the Lord’s surprises. ----Pope Francis in "Rejoice and Be Glad" (#139)
"Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire. . ." Acts 2: 3
What lights your fire when I write about the social teachings of the Church?
Think about it for a moment because I am serious. Week after week I write about different social teachings that are based on the life of Jesus or highlight ministries of Christian love and service that are making a difference. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if the Holy Spirit is sparking interest or are we just putting out the flame before it has a chance to ignite us to move? When I talk about the Church teaching that we are the Body of Christ—do you really believe that you are an active part of that Body? Do you know that nationally less than 7% of the members of any Catholic parish provide for 80% of the time, talent, and treasure? ( statistics provided by The Dynamic Catholic Institute). Where are the rest of you guys?
This week I am going to talk about an issue that our US Catholic Bishops support. Are you an immigrant to this country or a descendant of an immigrant? I think most of us can say "yes" to that question. Would you be willing to act on behalf of the stranger as Jesus did? For decades, the Catholic bishops of the United States have been consistent and steadfast in their calls for a just reform of the nation’s immigration system. The elements of reform supported by the bishops are grounded in Catholic social teaching generally and the Church’s teaching on migration specifically, including the joint pastoral letter released by the American and Mexican bishops, Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope (2003).
In June 2004, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration and The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, INC. (CLINIC) Board of Directors resolved to make comprehensive immigration reform, with special emphasis on legalization, a major public policy priority within the Church. As part of the Church's response, a diverse group of Catholic organizations with national networks decided to join the U.S. Catholic bishops' Justice for Immigrants to unite and mobilize a network.
We have a Justice for Immigrants group here at Cathedral. Some team members help at Catholic Charities and others advocate for immigrants.. Light your fire. Say "Yes" by joining our JFI group at: socialconcern@hnojnc.org
To advocate on-line with USCCB/JFI, here is the link: Take Action – Justice for Immigrants
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC
Mini-reflections on the Sunday scripture readings designed for persons on the run. "Faith Book" is also brief enough to be posted in the Sunday parish bulletins people take home. From today’s Acts of the Apostles reading:
And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house where they were
Reflection:
Pentecost reminds us we never can be sure how, or in whom, the Spirit will work. The feast cautions us to keep ears and eyes open lest we miss what new life the Spirit is breathing into us.
So, we ask ourselves:
POSTCARDS TO DEATH ROW INMATES
"One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out." ---Pope Francis
Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or, whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.
Please write to: Edward Davis #0100579 (On death row since 3/12/1992) Kenneth Rouse #0353186 (3/25/1992) Michael Reeves #0339314 (5/14/1992) ----Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.
For more information on the Catholic position on the death penalty go to the Catholic Mobilizing Network: http://catholicsmobilizing.org/resources/cacp/
On this page you can sign "The National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty." Also, check the interfaith page for People of Faith Against the Death Penalty: http://www.pfadp.org/
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