Tomorrow we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit breathed His light and grace and gifts on the Apostles, empowering the Church that Jesus established. This weekend I am thrilled to be cantoring the music for all the Masses with my uncle, the music minister. It's an incredibly holy feast day and finds me joy-filled to be a part of the Mass, and even moreso part of this Church.
Father T. had a dynamic homily about the fire of the Holy Spirit. Too often we act like firefighters, he said, and we fight the Spirit's presence and workings in our lives when instead we as Christians need to be receiving His fire and burning with passion and zeal for Him and the faith He left us--and the souls who still need to hear about Him. Father asked us to look into our lives, into the areas where we are fighting the fire of the Spirit. What is holding us back from being consumed by His love and power and leading?
Father T. reminded our parish tonight that Pentecost was not only a historical event, but also an eternal event. The Holy Spirit is perpetually being poured out on the Church and its members. I pray that each one of you receives the Holy Spirit in a deeper way this Pentecost, that we be open to His workings in our minds, our hearts, and our souls. May we use the gifts He gives us for His glory and service and may His fruits be seen in our lives. Pray with me, friends: "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth."
"If we get on fire for the Lord, the world will come and watch us burn." -John Wesley
Hurray! Thanks for posting this, Laura!
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