May 23, 2010
Pentecost
This weekend at my earlier three Masses I had the blessing of listening to our three deacons preach on the feast of Pentecost. Deacon Jim pointed out the coming of the Holy Spirit is the beginning of the Church. Before any church building or cathedral, before cardinals and chanceries, before the Vatican and canon law, the “Church†existed as a gathering of believers infused with Holy Spirit. What constitutes the Church is baptism, Eucharist and giving witness to Jesus Christ. There is a place for institutional structures and offices but we too often lose sight of a deeper mystery: “We are the Church.†Deacon Joe spoke of multiple occasions in Sacred Scripture in both Old and New Testaments of the movement of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is our commemoration of the unique coming of the Holy Spirit that creates the Church. Deacon Dennis’ homily was inspired by a hymn that kept playing in his mind: “We are one body – the Body of Christ.†Beneath the diversity/variety of gifts is the deeper bond of unity that holds the believing community together. Our three deacons made a conscious connection between the Holy Spirit and the Church. Pentecost is the “birth†day of the Church. “God send forth your Spirit, enkindle in us the fire of your love and renew the face of the earth."
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Feast of the Ascension
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Most Holy Trinity
