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 June 2001
Of red balloons and Spirit tunes...
Rejoice in the feast of
Pentecost
I admired the two hundred red balloons
throughout the church, tied to the ends of pews and in the sanctuary. This
would be a celebration to remember. The hours of
work inflating them had been worth it. Just
then, the first two parishioners to attend mass came in.
One of the women saw the balloons and said,
"Oh my goodness! What is going on today?" The other looked her
with some surprise and said, "Why, don't you know? It's Mothers'
Day!"
That Pentecost experience, nearly 15 years ago, comes
back to me every year. It obviously reminds me
of how much we neglect this celebration in the Church. This year, it also calls me
to a renewed spirit of rejoicing.
At a recent DRE meeting, the leader of
prayer offered an excerpt from a John Powell book, A
Lifegiving Vision.
Fr. Powell
suggests that the best way to really grow in your life is not to
wrestle your way toward perfection, but to simply take the time to enjoy
what you are doing.
There is some profound wisdom here, and it
connects perfectly with this beautiful feast of Pentecost.
What prompted the disciples to burst out
into the streets and proclaim the miracle of the Good News? It was the
unstoppable joy of the Spirit. They had to overcome
sadness at the loss of their beloved leader, fear of persecution or death,
and their own sense of inadequacy to fill the shoes of their Master. They
faced these challenges, even to the point of death, with that deep,
abiding joy, that "peace that passes understanding", given
through the Spirit.
I want that. Don't you? Don't we all
long for the freedom to truly live the Gospel that sets our hearts afire?
Let us tap into that profound joy, a joy that only the Spirit of God can give.
Come,
Holy Spirit!
We bless
you for the all of the gifts
that you have poured out upon us:
for family,
dear friends, co-workers,
and disciples to share our Walk with you.
Be joy
for us;
Be peace for
us;
Well up in us that Spring
of Living Water,
that Zeal
for the Reign of God,
that Love
for your People,
that grateful heart open
to
discovering you.
Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your
faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and they shall be created.
And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Chris Weber
Director
Catholic Education Ministries of Central Maryland.
Copyright © 2001 by the Catholic Education
Ministries Center of Central Maryland, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. All rights reserved.
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One
of the women saw the balloons and said, "Oh, my goodness! What is
going on today?" The other looked at her with surprise and said,
"Why, don't you know? It's Mother's Day!"
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