Pentecost

     Alleluia! Alleluia!!  Alleluia!!!  We rejoice this weekend at being given the opportunity to worship in community again in the presence of our almighty God and Lord, Jesus Christ, Who is most perfectly present to us in the Most Holy Eucharist!  That’s a lot of exclamation points, I know.  But that is how exciting it is to be together again!

     I clearly recognize that we aren’t all together again as of yet.  There are many who, because of age, because of an existing condition which makes it imprudent to be out and about yet, and others who are fearful of the unknown which continues to dog us with regards to this virus who are not able to be with us.  We keep them in our prayers and await the day when they will be able to be with us again, that we may be One Body in Christ, not just in our hearts, but also in our bodies.

     But today we celebrate the great and solemn feast of Pentecost.  It is especially lovely to be coming together on this day above all, when the Apostles and accompanying disciples were endowed with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  In this great event they came out from their place of hiding, having been released from their fears of the dangers, both known and unknown, which hung over them like Damocles sword.  In the spirit which had been poured out upon them they were focused not on the dangers that lay ahead, but on the need to proclaim Christ, crucified, died, & risen, and now raised in glory to the right hand of the Father.

     I know that many among us, and especially those who are part of the Body of Christ through Baptism – in water and in the spirit, continue to be fearful.  This is not the same as being separated out of prudence, and an abundance of caution (which is why our bishop is still setting aside the obligation to attend weekend Mass).  Fear is that which grips our hearts and keeps us from doing what we know, in our hearts, that we could and should do out of our love for God and our love for our neighbor.

     May the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which we received at Baptism, received more fully at Confirmation, and have prayed to receive ever more fully over these past nine days since the Ascension of our Lord, give to all the spirit of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord which will prepare us for ever greater witness to our trust in God, especially as we continue through this time of pandemic.