Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, we celebrate the birthday of the Church. The promised Holy Spirit that we've heard about these last couple of weeks comes down upon the Apostles, and their lives would never be the same! The world would never be the same! The Catholic Church, as founded by Christ, now celebrates the fact that the Holy Spirit remains with us to this very day. It is the Holy Spirit that enables all of us to hear Our Lord's call to follow Him every day. It the same Holy Spirit that enables us to build the Kingdom of God here and now. It is the same Holy Spirit that enables us to do God's work, while we await His return!
This is a powerful Feast Day! This is because today we remember what really does empower the Church, and fire Her up, and keep Her going! No wonder Jesus had this great desire for all of us to experience the Holy Spirit. The Apostles where drawn to give up everything and flow Our Lord! They loved Him very much and wanted Him to remain with them! But after Our Lord ascended into Heaven, and most especially after He sent them His Holy Spirit, they understood. They realized what Our Lord was saying to them. They knew why it is was so important for Jesus to go to the Father, and why it was so important that the Father and the Son send us the Holy Spirit!
Pope Francis reminds us that: The world needs men and women who are not closed in on themselves but filled with the Holy Spirit. Closing oneself off from the Holy Spirit means not only a lack of freedom; it is a sin. There are many ways one can close oneself off to the Holy Spirit: by selfishness for one's own gain; by rigid legalism – seen in the attitude of the doctors of the law to whom Jesus referred as "hypocrites"; by neglect of what Jesus taught; by living the Christian life not as service to others but in the pursuit of personal interests; and in so many other ways. However, the world needs the courage, hope, faith and perseverance of Christ's followers.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful
and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray. O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lastly, if you haven't signed up for online giving for our parish. Please do so here: https://saintbernadette.weshareonline.org Your gifts are needed now more than ever so we can continue the mission of the Church of making more disciples. Thank you for all who have helped to keep our parish going.
God Bless,
Fr. Don Kline, V.F.