Last week was just crazy. Nothing extreme or scary, just a lot. A lot of normal stuff as the school winds down, as I got ready for a final Pastoral Council meeting (for one parish) before summer--meaning many more items to consider--and also a festival (for the other parish). I'm not complaining because it was just as crazy-busy for all the folks who organized and worked the festival. I'm always impressed and humbled by that.
My homily for Pentecost was simply some thoughts about the workings of the Holy Spirit:
> Water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; you can have life in extreme cold or extreme heat, as long as there is water; but no water equals no life. We absolutely depend on the Holy Spirit.
> One of the works of the Holy Spirit is to bring forgiveness and reconciliation. How wonderful the sacrament of penance is--we're clean again, as in baptism, when we're made saints. The challenge is to stay a saint. If we charged for such a great gift as absolution, what would people pay? But it's free. In God's economy, the most valuable things are never in short supply; whereas in our economy, it's not so.
> Another work of the Holy Spirit is to "renew the face of the earth." In this bad economy, so much need; one way we might "renew the face of the earth" is to share our abundance with those in need. Many families want to send their children to our Catholic school but have no money with which to do it, and our funds to help them are limited.
> The Holy Spirit makes sacraments what they are. Without the Holy Spirit, I am not a priest, and the tabernacle is filled with mere bread. We could not be present at the Creation, but through the Holy Spirit's power, we are present at the New Creation (I explained this more), through the Mass. Being present for Jesus' saving death and resurrection would be enough; and yet we are also united to this and to him through the Eucharist. Through the Eucharist, we are transformed. We might ask the Holy Spirit to help us realize how wonderful this is, and to transform us, so we renew the face of the earth.
2 comments:
Father, I was blessed to be able to attend and hear the message myself. I do enjoy your masses, the chant that others complain about, for some reason encircle me and make me feel more a part of the mass. How exciting the summer will be with three followers! I am sure you will be able to guide them in their studies!
Hey, don't forget to start your talk for the Dayton Catholic Homeschool Conference. We have high expectations!
Debbie
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