We just celebrated the Ascension, and now we have come upon the great feast of Pentecost. I cannot imagine how the Apostles, along with Mary, felt as they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit. We already know the story, so we can approach this feast a little differently than they would. For the Apostles themselves, there were still so many unknowns. And so, they prayed.
Jesus had promised to send the Holy Spirit, so that what He had begun to do here on earth to change the world would be finished by the Apostles themselves, and those that came after them. Their prayers brought them to the next step: bringing the Good News to the world.
I found a defintion of Service that I like, and want to share with you. Service is what prayer looks like when it gets up off its knees and walks around in the world. (Michael J. Graham, SJ)
To accomplish this, the Apostles needed the gifts and fruits that the Holy Spirit would bestow upon them. They needed the gifts of:
In today’s day and age, we need to believe and act knowing that the Spirit is with us also. We need to move from the fear we may have regarding certain issues and come to know the peace and passion the Apostles experienced that first Pentecost.
What are your fears, your challenges? Do you believe the Spirit is always with you?
Take some time to reflect on these questions as well as the gifts the Spirit has given us through Baptism and Confirmation.
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
