Pentecost Revisited

 

Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23

… The time for Pentecost was fulfilled…
Acts 2:1

We need another Pentecost!  I don’t mean a rigid re-enactment of the original.  That certainly won’t happen.  But what happened in time to inaugurate the Church must be repeated in the heart and soul of every believer in Jesus Christ.  We must be filled with the Spirit and it must thrust us forth to boldly bear witness to the death and resurrection of Christ.  We need another Pentecost, but I’m not sure we want one.

Pentecost revisited in our own souls and in our own times means the upsetting of everything that we would call “normal”.  The Spirit-filled soul has no taste or tolerance for the passing pleasures of this present world.  All such pastimes are replaced with an increasing, burning desire to be more with Him.  The Church cannot compete with the world when it comes to entertainment.  But the world can never satisfy the soul like the Spirit does.  The world needs amusement because it is sin sick and Spirit deprived.  Not so the soul who has discovered the power of a personal Pentecost! 

Pentecost revisited means purity.  God will not dwell in a messy house.  If we desire the manifest presence of God in our own souls then it’s time to clean house.  Sin must go.  And along with it, everything that leads us to sin.  Here we must be radical.  “If your eye offends you pluck it out.  If your hand offends you cut it off.”  These were no idle words of our Lord.  He certainly does not mean them literally, but their spiritual application must be equally as violent.  There can be no sparing here.  The moment you determine that all sin must go it will begin to appeal to your sentiment.  “Remember all the good times we had!”  Satan will not be easily plundered.  The process will likely be agonizing, but the reward is worth it. 

Pentecost revisited will turn the world around us upside-down.  It will likely mean the loss of friendships; perhaps even of family relations.  Like our Lord, we will find ourselves despised and rejected of men.  What a privilege!  Read the lives of the saints.  Such was routinely their experience.  But we read their biographies because they transformed their world rather than being conformed to it.

Pentecost revisited will mean persecutions.  “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” [2 Tim. 3:12].  So said St. Paul.  Why do we think he was either in error or we will be the exception?  If the world does not oppose us it is a certain sign it is because it views us as a friend rather than an enemy or a threat.  Remember the words of the demons confronted by the seven sons of Sceva?  “Jesus I know, and Paul I know…,” [Acts 19:15].  The Spirit-filled soul poses such a threat to the kingdom of darkness that he is on the Devil’s most wanted list. 

Pentecost revisited means power.  While all these things are true and it may not sound like something desirable, we must see the end the Lord has in mind.  Peter, freshly fired by the Holy Spirit boldly preaches only days after he was cowering in fear.  Three thousand souls were baptized as a result.  They were struck to the heart and cried out, “What shall we do?”  Thus, the power of Pentecost.  Later Peter and John, going to the Temple to pray, cure a man lame from birth.  To read the rest of the Acts of the Apostles is to be treated to a smorgasbord of the power of God: the sick are healed, the dead are recalled to life, and the demoniacs are delivered.  Can you for a moment imagine that there would be any “business as usual” after such demonstrations?

Pentecost revisited means sanctity and divine intimacy.  This is the goal.  This is the purpose for which we were created; to have the deepest intimacy with God; to be immersed in the communion of love shared by the Blessed Trinity. 

So ask yourself this day, “What’s holding me back?”  What will keep you from this treasure which has been promised by the Father, purchased by the Son, and pledged by the Holy Spirit?  This is your birthright dear Christian.  Will you be robbed like Esau was robbed by scheming Jacob?

The key to experiencing our own personal Pentecost is twofold.  First, we must divorce ourselves from love of this world.  Then we must reach out to God with the deepest faith and love.  God, who is infinitely loving and merciful yearns for all His children to enter into this blessed experience.  Pentecost is not intended to be a historical memorial, but rather a perpetual reality.

We read today that the time for Pentecost was fulfilled.  There’s no more waiting.  God is most pleased to give us this same fullness of the Holy Spirit.  The way forward for us is the same as it was for them- through protracted prayer.  That is, to pray until we know that it has happened.  When we see that our life is being transformed and a “new normal” dawns, then we know we are indeed experiencing our own Pentecost.

Those first disciples waited ten days.  From the time of our Lord’s Ascension when they were instructed to wait in Jerusalem they waited.  They didn’t know for how long they would wait.  But they were faithful and stayed the course.  How long will it be until we enter upon our own Pentecost?  We don’t know.  But we can be sure the Lord will not be short on His promise.  If we wait upon Him in prayer we will certainly be endued with power. 

We need another Pentecost.  But do we want one?  The time is now.  The Church and the world are waiting.  Open your heart and let Pentecost be fulfilled in you today!

Glory!

 

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Year B

Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9; Ephesians 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Ephesians 1:18-21

One of my pet peeves is when people refer to the last book of the Bible as “Revelations”.  It isn’t.  It isn’t plural; it’s singular.  It’s Revelation.  More specifically, it is The Revelation of Jesus Christ.  Its title is given in the very first sentence.  The book isn’t focused, as many presume, on a series of visions that point to the end of the world.  Rather, it is a singular vision focused on our Lord Jesus Christ in His triumphant glory.

That’s what today’s feast is all about- Jesus in His triumphant glory.  And it’s a shame that this day doesn’t get more attention than it does.  Rather, it is relegated to almost an afterthought.  Perhaps this is because it is missing from some of the Gospel accounts, and even when it is mentioned it is only in passing.  Today’s selection from Mark almost seems to go by it as it says, “So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven.”  Ah, but don’t miss the rest as it concludes, “… and took his seat at the right hand of God.”

The Ascension is not merely a way to get Jesus off the stage in order to continue with the story.  It is the story!  Jesus didn’t rise from the dead only to die at a later time.  He rose victorious and triumphant and then ascended into heaven where He could take His rightful place at the right hand of the Father, there to await the Day of His return in power and glory to judge the living and the dead and to establish His kingdom forever.

In the Acts of the Apostles we get a glimpse into the greatness of this event when we read, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”  Were they looking with longing because Jesus was taken from them?  Or were they looking in awe?  Perhaps both, but certainly the latter.

In St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians we have our text.  Paul seems to lose himself in his own writing as he is reflecting on the great mystery of our Lord’s Ascension into glory.  He is far above all other power, both now and forever.  Jesus has the name above every other name and it is His name we magnify. 

Picture a triumphant king returning to his own land after conquering his enemies and arriving amidst a great retinue with the trophies of his triumph.  That is what we are observing.  We’re only seeing it from this side.  But heaven must have seen it the other way.  Here was our Lord returning to His heavenly home to take His rightful place which He had occupied from eternity past.  Only now He comes with souls in tow.  These are the souls rescued by Him from death.  From now on, the heavenly portal remains open to those who put their trust in Him!

Our Lord’s work of salvation is completed.  Now He may sit down and reign until every last enemy is put under His feet. 

Does it seem as if the Lord is reigning?  Has He been reigning over the last year while the world was turned upside down by the pandemic?  Is He reigning now while we, once again, watch the bloody conflict arising in the Middle East?  Has He been reigning while our streets and our nation have been torn apart by racial and political strife?  Does He reign in the midst of poverty, crime, illness, tragedy, and death?  The answer to all these questions is a resounding YES!  But it doesn’t seem that way.  Only those with eyes of faith and hearts of love can see it.

How do we respond to today’s feast?  First, with glorious praise and adoration of our King!  Second, with humble submission to His divine authority.  Third, with joyful proclamation of His victory.  And finally, with eager anticipation of His return in glory.

For those who regularly pray the rosary you will remember that the Second Glorious Mystery is The Ascension and that the virtue we recall is hope.  Hope for what?  Hope for eternal glory!  We look up, just like those first apostles, to recall that our Lord who ascended in glory will return in the same with power.  Our Lord has gone to His heavenly kingdom to prepare a place for us.  Then let us live like those who are heirs to such a kingdom!

Amidst the alarming headlines of the current day it can be easy to lose sight of what this day means.  Don’t let it happen.  As surely as we celebrated Easter joy, let us celebrate Ascension glory.  Our Lord reigns- now and forever!  Now He reigns in the hearts of those who are His.  But someday He will return- just like He left- to reign victorious over the nations.  Oh, what a day that will be!  I want to be part of that celebration.  Don’t you?

Perfecting Sacramental Grace

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Year B

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; Psalm 98:1-4; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?”
Acts 10:47

Tis the season!  No, not Christmas; First Communion!  We see the little girls in the pretty white dresses and veils and the little boys in their suits.  It’s a big deal.  This is a very special occasion.  Why?  Why do we make such a fuss about it?  The majority of those who identify as Catholics do not regularly attend Mass.  Yet, they are careful to be sure their children receive their sacraments.  I’m glad they feel that way.  But there’s a terrible inconsistency in celebrating something that they show by their own example is not very important to them. 

This same attitude carries over with other sacraments.  “Oh, we must have the child baptized; at least for grandma’s sake!”  “Of course, we want our children to receive Confirmation!”  But, again, I ask, “Why?”  Why do we make such a fuss over something that we ourselves are not practicing?  Why do we think it’s so important for the children when we don’t believe it’s important for us?

Now, I realize that are a great many people who are taking this seriously.  They are practicing the Faith and it is for that very reason that it’s so important to them for their children to do the same.  Thank God for every one who lives it out this way.  But they are, unfortunately, in the vast minority.

I propose that for the majority they have adopted a somewhat superstitious, almost pagan view of the sacraments.  They believe that merely to receive them is to place God in the position of being obligated to grant them access to heaven.  This is certainly not the case.  And that is what we are in need of remembering.

Let’s take a look at our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.  There, we hear the story of St. Peter being the first to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.  This was huge!  First of all, we find from a few references in Scripture that Peter held a strong and fierce prejudice against Gentiles.  So for Peter to be convinced to go to a Gentile home and offer Baptism really took some doing.

It started with a series of visions in which Peter saw a great sheet lowered from heaven with all manner of unclean animals in it.  A voice from heaven commanded Peter to kill and eat the animals.  Peter refused as he had never done such a thing for these were unclean animals.  But the voice returned, “What God has cleansed you must not call common,” [Acts 10:15].  This happened three times.  Then immediately, three men were at the door asking for Peter.  They wanted him to come to a Gentile home where their master, Cornelius, a Roman centurion, wanted to know more about the Faith.  Peter could see the hand of God in it so he went. 

When he arrived he began to preach to them about Jesus.  Cornelius had called some of his friends and family members to join them.  When they heard Peter preach about Jesus they began to speak in other tongues.

Peter immediately recognized that this was the same phenomena that accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  If the Holy Spirit had filled these people then they must have believed in Jesus and that means they needed to be baptized.  And so they were. 

Peter couldn’t have been convinced merely by a good argument, or even a dramatic display of emotion.  Peter saw the real deal and knew it was God at work.

We often use the same terminology but we do not always have the same experience.

We speak of Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and regeneration in Christ.  We speak of Confirmation in which we receive the Holy Spirit in power.  Sacramentally, these things are indeed happening when they are given.  But then what?

Without a firm intention to put into practice the grace we have received we are in danger of losing it; or at least losing its benefit.

God intends that we work out the grace He pours in when we receive the sacraments.  To merely receive a sacrament and experience no change; and worse, return to “normal living” as if nothing had occurred is to sin away the grace almost as soon as we have received it. 

Someone may have a natural gift for playing the piano.  But that alone won’t make him a concert pianist.  He must learn many skills and devote himself to many hours of practice.  Even after he attains concert pianist level he must continue to practice, perhaps even more than he ever did before.

This is how it works in the spiritual life.  God gives us grace in the sacraments.  But then we must practice.  We must learn how to work out this grace.  It needs to permeate our every thought and be expressed in our every word and action.  Even priests or religious are in need of this, perhaps in some cases even more so.

Baptism gives us new life in Christ.  Christ Himself stated that He came to give us “abundant life” [John 10:10].  Are we living life to the full?  Are we filled with the love, joy, and peace of Christ?  This, and so very much more, are what the Sacrament of Baptism brings us.

Confirmation brings us into the Spirit-filled life; a life of love, and power, and deep intimacy with God.  We are empowered to bear courageous witness for Christ.  Are we doing it?  Are we really living that way?

The Holy Eucharist is the very Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We receive Him into ourselves.  There’s no more intimate experience.  Our sins are forgiven and we are given the grace to live as Jesus.  In this way we bring Christ into the world.  How are we doing that? 

In each case there is the reception of the sacrament and the grace that is received.  Our lives are changed in the moment.  But as wonderful as that is, it cannot remain there.  We must put into practice the wonderful grace received in those sacraments. 

Today, take some time to reflect on the sacraments you have received.  You may not remember your Baptism, but you were made a child of God there.  Think about your First Holy Communion and your Confirmation.  Think about each time you receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, or receive forgiveness in Reconciliation.  Then thank God for His boundless love and mercy in bringing you into this life of Grace.  And finally, determine that with God’s help you will live this out to the glory of God and the service of all others around you!

Two Essentials

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Year B

Acts 9:26-31; Psalm 22; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.  It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.
Acts 9:31

“The fear of the Lord, and… the consolation of the Holy Spirit.”  This is the perfect combination for Christian living and making progress in the spiritual life.  As we can see from St. Luke’s inspired commentary, it was a winning combination then as well: “The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria… grew in numbers.”  Why is it so?  What is meant by these two terms?

The fear of the Lord stands in, not for being afraid of God, or terrorized by God, but rather, to have a deep and abiding reverence for God.  Also implied here is obedience to God’s word.  The fear of the Lord means that the early disciples knew God, loved God, and so desired to offer obedient service to Him.  Very much in view is the notion that all of these things were taught and embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The consolation, or comfort, of the Holy Spirit is the means by which we are reminded that we are the dear children of God and that His love is ever being poured out upon us and into our hearts.  This is how the Holy Spirit is described in St. John’s Gospel when our Lord refers to Him as the Comforter who is to come [John 14:16, 26].  This is His role.  St. Paul teaches us that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children [Romans 8:15, 16].

We need both elements.  Without the fear of the Lord we grow lax and presume on God’s grace.  We exhibit a familiarity with Him that is inappropriate and harmful.  On the other hand, without the consolation of the Holy Spirit we become fixated on rules, forget our roles as sons and daughters, and never progress to the intimacy with God that He intends.  So how do we maintain the proper balance?

Our times of prayer should be rooted in the Sacred Scriptures and the Tradition of the Church.  These will continue to reveal God as He is, and not as we are prone to make Him out to be.  We will encounter a God of love, but also of justice and holiness.  We will be led to see our sins for what they are and to confess them with a firm purpose of amendment.  We will learn to rely on His mercy for forgiveness, and His grace to enable us to live the holy lives to which we are called.  We should often call to mind the greatness of God and allow ourselves to be drawn into the deepest adoration of God because He is worthy of all our praise.

Equally, we should reflect on our position as the adopted sons and daughters of the great King.  Our Papa loves us and longs for us to come to Him willingly, joyfully, trustingly, and lovingly.  The Holy Spirit was given to us, first in Baptism, and more powerfully in Confirmation, that we might know the depths of this intimacy with God. 

As long as we maintain these aspects in balance we can expect to make good progress.  But if we err on one side or the other we can expect difficulties.  If you are experiencing dryness or inconsistencies in your walk with the Lord, check to be sure both of these elements are intact and in balance.

If we continue in this way we can expect the blessing we see in evidence in the Acts of the Apostles today.  We can expect spiritual growth and progress in our own life and fruitfulness as we share these things with others.

So then, let us be careful, this day and every day, to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the consolation of the Holy Spirit.  May God add His grace and blessing as we do so and may we have the joy of seeing the church multiplied!