Pastor's Letter 20220605 - 05 June 2022 - Holy Spirit-The Gift of the Father

[Father Michael]

June 5^th, 2022

Feast of Pentecost

Tongues of fire appeared over their heads

A Message from Father †Michael

Today’s Theme:  

“The Holy Spirit: 

Gift of the Father” 

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

Pentecost (literally, 50-days…after Passover,) is the Greek term used to refer to the Feast of Weeks—originally, an agrarian celebration to commemorate the wheat harvest.  On that day, special sacrifices were offered from grateful farmers, who brought the Lord the first fruits of their crops.  In second-century-Judaism, the feast became a remembrance of the “gift of the Law,” to Moses, at Sinai (the Ten Commandments.)  †Luke combines the harvest, moral formation, the Law, affirmation, new membership and the New Covenant, in today’s selection for our First Reading (Acts 2:1-11.)  Therein, he highlights the Gifts of the Spirit, peoples gathering for instruction, and a vitalization of the very life of God in Christ.  Just as Jesus was filled by the Spirit, and empowered for His ministry of healing and service, so also are we, His disciples.

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A valuable lesson could be learned from †Paul’s attitude toward—and counsel to—those who claimed a monopoly on the Spirit by virtue of what they had received and the ministries they exercised.  Our Second Reading (1 Corinthians 12: 3-13,)  shows how the faithful were blessed by their plentiful gifts— varied and diverse in manifestation—through which they taught, counseled, excited and motivated their listeners.  In order to preserve the continuity of the Gospel, †Paul did not favor one gift over another; nor did he condemn the unusual or condone the ordinary.  Rather, he turned the eyes of all toward the Giver, the Source of their unity and the Reason for their existence.  His metaphor of the body, with all its interdependent parts, (to denote “members” of the faithful,) was a familiar one for the Stoic philosophers of the time.  As one so gifted himself, he often used his visions to motivate others to a deeper and more meaningful experience of Jesus, and His Gospel.

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Today’s Gospel selection (John 20: 19-23,) reminds us of the Genesis account of creation, wherein God breathed love, peace and His own Likeness into a disordered universe:  The exalted Jesus breathed upon His disciples, by which they received life, peace and a bond of union with Him that would sustain them until His second Advent.  While He was still among them, and before His passion, Jesus had promised the Spirit, (the Paraclete,) to His followers.  With His Spirit empowering them, they would be assured of every peace and joy.  Motivated and defended by His Spirit, they would be able to do great works—even grander than Jesus had done.  Perhaps the primary meaning of today’s Gospel is that the peace and forgiveness that had characterized the efforts of the earthly Jesus were being granted to Jesus’ disciples—in their power to forgive sins in His name (which has become our modern Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.)  The multi-faceted event of Easter-Ascension-Pentecost vindicated the moment of the cross and proved it to be a sign, not of failure, but of forgiveness.

The Role of the Spirit

We would find it impossible to live the life of a Christian without the help of the Holy Spirit.  But to appreciate that role, we must begin with Jesus, Himself.  Even He needed the Spirit, Who played a major function in His life—descending upon Him at His Baptism, and remaining with Him, continually strengthening and guiding Him throughout His public ministry.  At its beginning, we read the lovely words of Isaiah:  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1.)  

What a beautiful mission!  And, how faithful He was to it.  Jesus was filled with the Spirit, and power went out from Him through His gracious words and compassionate deeds.  

It was the Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead.  It was the Spirit Who opened the minds of the disciples, helping them understand the meaning of His death.  Jesus poured out the Spirit on those who were to carry on His mission—descending upon them, individually and collectively.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, they began their mission, and we are witnesses to the great courage and confidence with which they did so.

That same Spirit descends upon us, too, at our Baptism and Confirmation.  The Spirit is not given for a moment, but accompanies us on our life-journey, in the “footsteps of Jesus.”  The Spirit gives us power to participate in His work by granting us strength in times of weakness; being our guide in times of doubt; acting as our counselor in times of sadness; and our Advocate, always pleading “our case” to God.  

We learn of the gifts of the Spirit from the Old Testament (Isaiah 11:2:)  wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.  The first three guide our minds and assist our consciences in knowing “right” from “wrong.”  As we mature, our knowledge expands.  As we gain piety, we will utilize our gifts without conceit.  Fortitude (courage) enables us to do the right thing even when it is difficult or unpopular.  Having awe and reverence for God is what is meant by “fear of the Lord.”  

†Paul tells us the “fruits” of the Holy Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23.)  Through these beautiful attributes, we find happiness in life.  In contrast, he warns against self-indulgence, from which originates bad temper, fighting, jealousy, cruelty, meanness, revenge, fornication, idolatry and drunkenness.  These ugly demeanors produce only misery.  The more we renounce “ourselves,” and “walk in the Spirit,” the more “fruitful” our lives become.  

The Spirit we have been given does not promote “timidity,” but, “power.”  Wind and fire/heat are symbols of power (signified in today’s Mass by the red vestments of the priest.)  Wind has the power to move, to uproot.  Fire has the power to refine and transform.  The power, thus symbolized, is that of God.  The coming of the Spirit provided the apostles with the energy, the courage, and the love to accomplish their task, which Christ had given them.  The power of the Holy Spirit is there for each of us, too, ever-leading us along the path of righteousness toward our eternal salvation.  We simply have to “ask, and it shall be given” to us  

The Miracle of Change

People change when they are given hope—when someone believes in them, giving them purpose.  Above all, they change when they are loved.  Then, they “come out of their shells,” and hidden energies are released.  The miracle of “human change” can be said to be the only “true” miracle!  

Each of us has the capacity for goodness.  We have hands that can care; eyes that can see; ears that can hear; tongues that can speak; feet that can walk; and, above all, hearts that can love.  But we also have individual “handicaps” that keep us from realizing our true, and full “selves.”  We need someone, and/or something to awaken what is hidden inside us.  Then we will find the joy in life, and we will grow.  

Profoundly disabled people, when locked away in institutions and effectively “abandoned” by society, often become even more withdrawn and despairing.  A wounded body will heal, naturally, but not a wounded heart.  It will “harden,” in an effort to survive, and often become filled with anger and bitterness.  But plentiful evidence exists to show that when such souls are integrated into a community, where they are loved, intense changes occur.  

A vivid example for us is that of the apostles, who were psychologically “wounded” after the departure of our Blessed Lord—so much so, that they kept cloistered in the “upper room.”  But after Pentecost, they were “changed” people!  With the coming of the Holy Spirit, they left their hiding place and set out courageously to preach the Gospel.  

For us, the followers of Jesus, the gentle power of the Holy Spirit is there, to awaken our latent courage, and help us live, prosper and overcome our weaknesses and failures.  

May God Richly Bless You!

"What Spring does to invigorate cherry trees, the Holy Spirit will do for us."

~~Pablo Neruda-Poet~~

To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/XKOQ_sktXPY

 

Be Present, Spirit of the Lord.docx

 

Edited June 5, 2022 by Father Michael