Pentecost

The transformation of the followers of Christ from timid and frightened men into fearless exponents of the Gospel began at Easter and was confirmed at Pentecost.  After the terrible events of Good Friday, the disciples were gathered in hiding.  They were afraid of suffering the same fate as their Master.  Jesus came among them and spoke his word of peace.  He fulfilled his promise and gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the disciples this was a new birth, they came to life once again!  Fifty days had passed since that Easter experience and on the day of Pentecost the same Holy Spirit brought them to maturity.  They were given new strength, and enabled to witness to the risen Christ whose life they shared.
 
       Just as most of us cannot remember our baptism, so for most of us our confirmation is a distant memory.  The Feast of Pentecost gives us a chance, once again, to call to mind the purpose of our confirmation.  The fact is that we have been consecrated in our baptism and in our confirmation.  Through these sacraments we became Christian.  We entered into the Christian community by being born in baptism, and we grew in the strength of the Holy Spirit through confirmation.  That is why they are called sacraments of initiation, a process that is complete when we are one with the family of God in the Eucharist. The sign of God’s powerful presence may not be so striking as it was on the first Pentecost Sunday, but it is nonetheless real.  He gives us his strength that we may all witness to his love!
 
       St. Paul wrote: “There are different gifts but the same Spirit; there are different ministries but the same Lord; there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone.  To each person the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is given for the common good.”  In other words, the gifts that God so lavishly bestows are not meant to be used only for ourselves.  Rather, they are meant to be used in the service of others.  This week, why not ask God to help you to become more aware of the unique gifts that you have to offer our St. Mary’s community!  Think about it!!