Church of the
Annunciation

Do we hold our breath and pinch our nose? Or do we breathe in the very life of God? In the Gospel according to St. John, Jesus breathes upon his disciples on Easter Sunday – imparting the Holy Spirit. St. Luke, the evangelist, in Acts speaks of spiritual phenomena of a driving wind and tongues of fire that  describe the invisible outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon/within the disciples gathered in the upper room. In the bible “Spirit” in Hebrew and Greek means “Breath.” The Spirit is given to enable disciples of every generation to recall the words of Jesus and to continue his mission. On this feast of Pentecost, we consciously pray for and breath in the Holy Spirit sent by the Father and Son. The Spirit enables us to identify challenges and opportunities in our society where we can bring the good news of Jesus Christ. The Spirit enables us to call forth and apply the gifts or charisms that are abundant within the believing community. Yesterday, a woman told me her story of how, as a wife and mother with the support of her husband, she obtained a degree in sexuality from UB in order to teach the Catholic understanding of sexuality to teen age girls in High School. Alumnae from Sacred Heart Academy will remember her. When she graduated from UB she was pregnant with another child on the way. We receive the Holy Spirit not to sit back and complain but to become involved in society – in small and significant ways to inaugurate the Kingdom of Heaven. With Mary of Nazareth, we pray for the Holy Spirit to build up a faith community of love and hope, of worship, welcome and service, where others will discover in and with us that Christ is Life.