The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, May 11, 2008
Pentecost Sunday



Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
John 20:19-23



A reflection on today's Scripture:

Today
we celebrate
the birthday
of the Church!

As the Holy Spirit entered into Mary at the Annunciation, making her fruitful with the Son of God, so too, at that first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit entered into the expectant twelve apostles (Mathias replacing Judas), swooping down with wind and fire.

As breathing fresh air purifies blood, so too did the Spirit gave vigor to all who were dead or sluggish in the hearts of the apostles, freeing them from their fear of proclaiming publicly the truth they knew and had experienced. The Holy Spirit infused them with gifts beyond value˜wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord. As He breathed into them, they would in turn breathe out the Holy Spirit for the rest of their lives, even to death, for love of that Truth.

And fire!! We often joke about the heat from birthday candles. Can you imagine the heat from nearly 2000 birthday candles today! Far greater is the heat from millions of flames radiating from those confirmed in the Spirit. Pray that our young people being confirmed this season will make a difference through the faith and love they could bring to their families and parishes. And they are only a part of many thousands throughout the world whose faith could create a "second spring" for the universal Church. That faith could engender a revolution of love and the establishment of justice among the peoples of this bleeding earth.

Three years ago, Pope Benedict, in his Installation Mass homily, clearly set unity among all Christians as a central goal of his pontificate. Unity is the work of the Holy Spirit, to bind all into oneness with Christ—one faith, one Lord, one Baptism. And surely it was the Holy Spirit who inspired his recent visit to the United States to assure us that in Christ is our hope!

On this feast of Pentecost, a new energy comes to the Church through the grace of the Holy Spirit. In the Spirit of hope, we are called to be courageous in witnessing to our faith through an outpouring of prayer and activity inspired by the Holy Spirit. Especially do we need to show hospitality to those seekers of truth in our community who, with a little encouragement, might inquire about the Catholic faith.

And how about all those who entered the Church at Easter? Do we know their names, and what they look like, and where they live? Do we invite them to our homes so that we can get to know them better? Or just a daily prayer that these new Catholics will persevere. The possibilities are truly endless.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful!
And enkindle in them the fire of thy love.
Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created,
And thou shalt renew the face of the earth!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore | email: pwhitmore29 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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