From the Pastor – Pentecost

From the Pastor – Pentecost

Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, which is significant to us as Catholics in multiple ways. It marks the completion of our Easter season, but it is also known to many as the birthday of the Church. We recall that it began with Jesus calling to His Apostles to “Follow me.” Now some three years later the Lord sends them out filled with the Holy Spirit to preach the “Good News.” Throughout His ministry Jesus prepared His followers for this moment, as it was clear He intended to give them the authority to build the Church and to do His work.

The Lord breathed on them granting them the Holy Spirit, just as God breathed life into the first humans during creation. Thus, this was a moment of re-creation. St. John Chrysostom pointed to Pentecost as the time when those who follow Jesus (which includes each of us), paralleled Moses when he came down from the mountain carrying tablets of stone in his hands, the Ten Commandments. St. John Chrysostom said, “The Apostles came down from the mountain carrying the Holy Spirit in their hearts. They were a living law, living tablets.” That should be true of us as well.

The First Reading today from the Acts of the Apostles reports the happenings on this day. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit was gifted to Jesus’ followers and on this day, we received the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which allow us to live, proclaim, and model a Christian way of life. We hear that “they were all together in one place” when this occurred.

That is what we do when we gather, and that is what we are doing at this moment. At Mass we share gifts, especially the gift of the Eucharist, but we also share a love for God, a trust in the Lord. We, too, are filled with the Spirit. However, before we can be filled, we must recognize and acknowledge our emptiness.

We gather together to worship, to pray, in obedience. By being here we accept the fact that we need the guidance and help and strength of the Lord to carry out our mission. We have to rely on God.

St. Paul, in the Second Reading from his First Letter to the Corinthians, speaks of the spiritual gifts we have received. He points out that each of us has received that gift but acknowledges that the gift we receive may vary in some ways. Nevertheless, all of our gifts combined make up the Body of the Church. Are you using your gifts? Have you prayed and considered what they might be and how you might use them to serve the Church and one another? Pentecost serves as a reminder to us that we must do that for the Church to be whole and for the Church, including our parish to be effective.

Every gift and every one of us is important in the eyes of God and important to the health of the Church. The Holy Spirit is always present in us but sometimes it may be more apparent both to us and to others. We must understand that the gifts we have received are intended to benefit all, not just us.

Pentecost falls 50 days after Easter. Our Gospel Reading from St. John records the first time Jesus appeared to His Apostles after the Resurrection, in other words on Easter Sunday. Just as today we are reminded of our call, so we are through this reading. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We have been given a mission to continue the work of Christ here and now. Every time we gather for Mass and receive Christ through the Eucharist, we should have awareness and an understanding of that mission. When we leave here today, whenever we go out in the world, we are to share and spread the Good News.

The best way to do that has to do with how we live, what those around us see and experience through us. There is an idea that best explains what that means; that concept is stewardship. On Pentecost it became clear to the followers of Jesus that they were the stewards of His mission, the stewards of His Church. That sense of stewardship has been handed down for centuries and now rests on us. With the help of the Lord, permeated with the Holy Spirit, we need to go forth from here; indeed, we need to go forth each and every day, to accomplish that mission. That is what the Church is all about, and that is what life should be all about for us.

Pastoral Pondering

As we celebrate Pentecost, we are invited to ponder the wonderful ways in which the Lord calls us to spread the Gospel as we seek to follow Him. The apostles were fearful until the Spirit descended. Afterward, they went forth in boldness and courage to proclaim Jesus Christ without hesitation.

In many ways we have been living in fear and uncertainty during these past months. The COVID pandemic has consumed our attention, turned our lives upside down, and, at least for some, changed our lived irrevocably. Nonetheless, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be courageous even in the face of uncertainty. We are called to persevere when everyone else seems to give up.

These past months have been difficult and challenging. Yet, we can be thankful that we are able to come together now for Holy Mass; albeit, while still practicing safety precautions. In truth we, as a parish, never really closed down as so many others did. Our charitable outreach and our efforts to stay connected were a top priority throughout this time.

As we move forward and gradually discover what the new normal might look like, I would ask that everyone continue to pray for all of those who have been negatively impacted either directly by the virus itself or due to the restrictions and closures that have left many in an economically precarious situation. As a people who have hope because of our faith in Jesus Christ, let’s work together to continue to be His hands and feet in our parish and community.

Before closing I wanted to let you know of some staff changes that you will see in this bulletin as well. First, Aubrey Quintero, who has been our leader for music at the 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass has taken a full-time position at another parish. Aubrey has been a blessing to us and has done much to enhance our Lifeteen and Edge programs. She will be missed. Second, because of the numbers of students enrolled in our Middle School Edge program and in light of the importance of limiting gathering size, we are seeking a part-time person to assist in our Edge program which will be significantly expanded in the fall to provide smaller groups and greater choice for our families. If you or someone you know might be interested and have the requisite requirements for these positions, please let us know.