“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Church…” Sunday June 8th brings us to the end of the Easter Season and the Birthday of the Church. We have been watching the story of the early Christian church and now we come to celebrate the feast that brought the church to life, the feast of Pentecost.
The long awaited Spirt has come to the apostles and filled them with the zeal of proclaiming God’s Word! I like to think of the Apostles as receiving the energies of the Spirit on Pentecost. Joyce Rupp in her book, May I Have This Dance, speaks of the energies of the Spirit. I wish to share them with you.
Spirit of God, stir the energy of your joy within us.
Spirit of God, deepen in us the energy of your peace.
Spirit of God, draw us toward the energy of your patience.
Spirit of God, create in us the energy of your kindness.
Spirit of God, strengthen in us the energy of your goodness.
Spirit of God, renew in us the energy of trusting in you.
Spirit of God, bless us with the energy of your gentleness.
Spirit of God, move us with the energy of your guidance.
I love the word ‘energy,’ it speaks to me of transformation. Energy creates change and allows for work to be accomplished. And isn’t this what happened on Pentecost? The Apostles were transformed so that they could accomplish the task at hand, to spread the kingdom of God’s love to all. The fear and anxiety they were feeling was transformed and the Church was born.
At this time and space of your life, which of the energies do you desire to obtain to strengthen your spiritual life? It would be wise to sit with Joyce’s litany and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the energy you most need at this present time. For now, is the appointed time. May the energies of the Spirit fill your week.
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
