Homily: Feast of Pentecost
Homily: Feast of Pentecost
As we reflect on the Pentecost event today, we might wonder how the experiences of that day related to the disciple’s life with Christ. What did this event represent? The disciples had committed to Jesus earlier in their lives. We presume that they all were baptized. We might wonder if the disciples hadn’t received the gift of the Spirit before. But they needed more.
We could say that the experience of Pentecost represented an “awakening” in the lives of the followers of Jesus. When we talk about spiritual growth, we realize that formation is a very important process in the lives of believers. We all have been catechized as members of the church. Some of us received a few years of religious education that probably lasted through our grade school. Others might have had a formal training that extended from the time we were in pre-school until the time we received graduate degrees from Catholic institutions. But just knowing about Christ doesn’t necessarily mean that we know Christ.
Parents sometimes speak of a frustration that their children are no longer involved actively in the life of the church. Usually, the frustration is expressed with words like this, “My children went through Catholic Schools, I gave them a good example in my own faith practice, but now as adults they do not seem to want to live out their faith. Something has not happened.”
Some spiritual writers might speak of the whole idea of needing to have an awakening experience. What does that look like? A lot of people know all the religious laws and precepts of the church. Perhaps they believe that the object of life with Christ is to keep those laws in order to achieve their individual salvation, but when we have an “awakening” just trying to keep the rules is no longer enough.
We are compelled to do more. The disciples had that compulsion after the Holy Spirit descended upon them. The followers of Jesus could have gone on with their individual spiritual walks after he left them by ascending to heaven, but when their “awakening” happened, they burst out of the upper room, and went out in the street to give witness to their faith. The disciples were no longer satisfied with ensuring their own salvation, but they wanted to see others achieve salvation. As one Theologian put it, they wanted to be involved in Jesus’ plan for universal salvation.
What does an awakening look like in real life? Most of the great saints had the experience of awakening to their true calling. Teresa of Avilla is good example. Teresa was born in 1515 near Avila in Spain. Teresa was part of an aristocratic family. At twenty years old she entered a Carmelite in Avila. The convent was well endowed. The sisters lived very comfortably. The rules of the convent were loosely enforced.
Teresa settled into her new way of life, but there were times of illness. A year after she entered the convent, she left the order for three years to recover from her sicknesses. She was even paralyzed for about a year. Her illnesses were thought to be psychosomatic in nature, caused by an inner conflict. Perhaps she knew that she was not who she said she was.
After nineteen years of religious life, one day she was praying before the crucifix. She had a mystical experience as she asked Jesus to let her be poor as he was poor. Her faith was awakened. In 1562, she and thirteen other nuns founded a new house that emphasized poverty and penance. She then founded sixteen other convents. The woman that was so weak and sickly became sure of herself. She was a tremendous administrator. She was also a threat because she was such a charismatic woman. Her writings were examined by the Inquisition. She was thought to be a heretic by some in the church, but she did not back down. Today she has been declared a Doctor of the Church.
Do awakenings happen once in life? We might say that, but more often, we could say that once we are attuned to the Spirit awakenings can continue inviting us to serve Jesus at an ever-deeper level.
We ask this Pentecost if we are listening to the promptings of the Spirit. The apostles could have probably talked themselves out of following the encouragement of the Spirit. Teresa could have continued to live her mediocre religious life, but she did not. No, the saints acted when they were awakened and they changed the face of the church. Moving with the Spirit has changed the life of the church in the past. We pray that it will today.
Reflection Questions:
- Have I had an awakening? When was that?
- What might I do to be more in tune with the Spirit? How do I know the Spirit is acting in my Life?
Dear Parishioners,
On Memorial Day, I will be having Mass at St. Mary’s cemetery at 9 a.m.; Fr. Dittmer will be out of town. There will also be a Mass at Calvary Cemetery. On Memorial Day we remember not only those who men and woman who died in service of our country, but we also remember all those who have gone before us in faith. This is a wonderful tradition. I would encourage people to attend these outdoor Masses.
We have two seminarians that will be ordained this Saturday. Their names are Nicholas Wilson and Austin Bosse. Please pray for them as they begin their priestly ministry. Ordination day is a wonderful Diocesan Celebration. The vocation of being a priest is a challenge and has never been more challenging than in the world we live in today.
Bishop Tylka recently celebrated his 25th anniversary of Ordination at the Cathedral in Peoria. We all congratulate him and wish him many more productive years in ministry.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark