(Listen to this homily here).
As we celebrate Pentecost, we heard the powerful
manifestation of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. There were tongues of fire. There was a loud wind.
The building shook. Those
huddled in a locked room out of fear were emboldened and they preached in every
language.
This
weekend I would like to make one simple point: the Holy Spirit, who worked so
powerfully at Pentecost, is the same Spirit at work today.
Since
I arrived at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Columban we have had eight
Baptisms. Actually, numbers nine
and ten will take place after the 10:30 Mass. Each of these children received the Holy Spirit through the
sacrament of Baptism. The same
Spirit.
We
have also had ten Confirmations—four adults at the Easter Vigil and six of our
high school students. Now I didn’t
see tongues of fire, but the same event took place as at Pentecost—the Spirit
confirmed their faith.
Or
think about some of the recent blessings God has given our parishes. I commend you for growing in joy. Take a look at coffee and donuts—I know
I will be joyful! And it’s not
from a chocolate donut! One of our
senior members of our parish recently said to me, “Father, we have our happy
back.” Praise God! This joy comes from the Spirit.
Or consider the ways in which we
serve. I have always been proud of
your efforts here. Whether it is
coming to Mass at Good Samaritan, visiting the elderly, bringing communion to
the sick, serving dinner at the Community Café, working in the Clothes Closet
and the like, “there are different forms of
service but the same Lord.” Such charity is not possible without the Spirit.
Finally,
I am grateful for our growth in hospitality and welcoming guests to our
parishes. In the United States,
hospitality is consider a nice quality—something good to practice. But in Jesus’ time—in the period of the
Israelites—hospitality was an essential
virtue.
Last
weekend I noticed a new person walk through the doors—this young woman may
potentially be working in IFalls for a few months and stopped by for
worship. After Mass was done I put
you all on the spot and asked her what her experience of our parish was
like. She said, “Father, I felt so
welcomed. Several people said
hello and made me feel at home.”
Praise God! Again, this is
the Spirit at work.
Now
reflect on how the Spirit is working in your own life. You are here at Mass. You made it here on a holiday
weekend. Perhaps it took an extra
tug from God to leave the lake or the cabin to come, but here you are. You cannot come to Mass without the
Holy Spirit first beckoning you.
Have
you ever prayed? “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by
the Holy Spirit.” Prayer
requires the Spirit first moving our hearts.
Do
you love anyone? “God is love.” No God—no love!
Finally,
let’s think about the Catholic Church around the world. We have over 1.2 billion members
worldwide. In the last 2,000
years, no one has fed more of the hungry, clothed more of the naked, educated
more students or visited more of the imprisoned or hospitalized than the
Catholic Church. This is fruit of
the Spirit.
We
heard how the disciples spoke in many different languages as they proclaimed
the Gospel at Pentecost. The
Catholic Church today literally speaks every language in the world. This weekend, there is Mass in Germany
in German, Mexico in Spanish, and many languages in Africa. We literally speak every tongue known
to man.
This
is all in addition to the ways God has worked through the Sacraments. Billions—perhaps trillions—have been
baptized, confirmed, fed by the Eucharist and healed through Confession and the
Anointing of the Sick. The Spirit
is alive and well!
Do you see this?
The
disciples in the upper room received the Spirit and now we are 1.2 billion
strong. There were far less in
that room than in this Church.
Imagine what God could do with us if we are open to the Holy Spirit!
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