Today is the feast of Pentecost.
Pentecost is a special day in the life of the Church. It is the end of the Easter season and special it it’s own right for the coming of the Holy Spirit after Christ’s ascension.
As I’ve written before I think the Holy Spirit gets short shrift in terms of our attention, and in prayer, within the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity and we should consider him, not it, in our prayer life.
While it is Jesus who gave us the Sacraments it is the Holy Spirit who animates them as well as gives life to the Church. That Spirit of God and of Jesus is available to help us; we just need to ask.
One of my favorite Holy Spirit songs is this one by Sr. Marianne Misetich. It is sung simply here by Chris Brunelle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCTlMkY9OtU
My family and I have been touched by the prayers and comforting words we received the last week and a half since my mother passed. I haven’t been on the receiving end of that since my father died in 1996 so it’s been a while. I’ve usually been in the praying and comforting side of that situation. Now, having experienced it recently, I’m dedicating more than ever to offer it for others.
The sister, and her husband, of my brother in law, donated Bibles through Gideon in memory of mom. She would have loved that. I think it was a beautiful thing for them to do. It is more meaningful to me because in the last year Connie and I have spent a lot of time praying for her due to a cancer diagnosis. We saw her, for the first time in many years, at the funeral. She’s waiting for test results that she thinks will show her cancer free. I mention all this to emphasize how we’re all connected.
As opportunity presents itself be sure to pray for others. Keep a list if you have to. Elena Tejeda told me once she has so many people she intends to pray for she sometimes isn’t sure she remembers everyone or properly writes them down so she will just trust the Lord to remember them for her in case she forgets. I think that’s a great plan and I’ve used it myself many times. Anyway, pray for others and, if you are moved to offer a tribute gift, consider funding the distribution of Bibles. It doesn’t have to be Gideon’s, though there’s nothing wrong with that. I saw something from Word on Fire recently that gives people the opportunity to fund the distribution of The Gospels to university students. https://www.wordonfire.org/bible-college/ I’m sure there are a lot of options if you search for them. I’m also sure there are a lot of other ways to remember someone. I just thought I’d mention the donation of Bibles since it means so much to me.
Regardless of what else we do loving God and neighbor have to be at the heart of our life as Christians. The Holy Spirit can help to animate our faith and bring our words to action. I’m trying to do that more myself. I hope you’ll join me.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
I hope you have a great week.
Come Holy Spirit. Fill us with your love, peace, and joy!
Bob
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