May
11
In the Room
May 11, 2008 |
What was it like in the room? When the Holy Spirit descended?
Pentacost Sunday is such a great feast because this day reminds us that the Holy Spirit is always with us in all of his glorious power and with all of his marvelous gifts. It’s just up to us to recognize and embrace his presence in our lives and allow him to use us for our Father’s will.
So how do we recognize and embrace his presence? Maybe, the first place to start is to envision ourselves in the room when the Holy Spirit descended on Mary, the Apostles and the other disciples. Just imagine . . .
The past week has been nothing but non-stop praying. A week ago, you saw the most incredible thing ever - the Ascension of the Lord. You all have been moved with such passion by what you witnessed that the lot of you have done nothing but pray and give praise to God. You’ve been singing, sharing stories, acting like anything but the person you thought you were. But that’s how incredible the past two months - heck the past three years have been.
Then, without warning, you are startled by a loud roar, flames appear over your head, you all stop talking and just sit mesmerized. You are partially afraid but mostly in awe. Then a calm overcomes you - a peace that you have never experienced before. You feel a new spirit consume you. And you feel like getting out of that room.
You all burst through the doors and start talking to everyone you see - telling them about Christ and the Good News. You realize you’re speaking in languages you’ve never even heard before - and everyone seems to understand. You have an urgency and a passion that will stay with you for the rest of your life. And the future lies open before you. You know what you are to do. And you start moving immediately and begin anew.
Quite a scene. Everyday, we should place ourselves in that room - we should feel moved by the Holy Spirit today, tomorrow, the day after that, and so on. There is so much work that the Holy Spirit is calling us to do that we can’t waste another day. The work of Christ’s kingdom awaits - we just need to get started.
And a good place to start today for us fathers is to thank that incredible woman who raises our children and that incredible woman who raised us and that holy mother who is mother to us all. Mothers are the foundation of our civilization and we do well to sing their praises this day and every day.
Pentecost and Mother’s Day - the Holy Spirit and Moms - a day doesn’t get much better than this.
