In the grand scheme of things, do you ever contemplate your personal role in eternity? That kind of “spiritual thinking” is foreign to many people. How about you? As we go along in life we are simultaneously part of the “small picture” and the “big picture”. Our personal microcosm is really a tiny segment of God’s picture of, and desire for the world at large. Pentecost is a great reminder as well a guide line to where we stand in both of those places.
We recall the Gifts of the Spirit, especially on Pentecost Sunday when we celebrate the “Birthday of the Church”. I always picture the scene in my head and thrill at the idea of people speaking languages they never learned while communication between God and man was literally “blown” open by the arrival of the Spirit. He arrives with a flourish and spectacular show of power. It’s no mistake that when JPII talked about Vatican II he referred to it as an opportunity to let a new wind blow through the Church.
Pentecost, though, is no memorial. It does not celebrate the recall of a “thing that was”. It is a mark of the Church that is living and active and beckons us to the responsibility of allowing the Spirit to function in our lives. It is never a bad thing to review the Gifts of the Spirit as a benchmark of our own spiritual walk. As believers with a public voice these things should be present in our thinking and clearly reflected in our writing: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
Scripture also teaches about the “fruits” that come from the action of the Spirit in our lives: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, continence and chastity. How many of these are part of the face that you show the world? If you haven’t contemplated the “Gifts” or the “Fruits” lately this might be the time to take up that challenge. Your writing should be the “wind” that carries readers to places they didn’t know they could go. That is only possible if you and the Spirit are on close personal terms!
“When Pentecost day came around, they had all met in one room. when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting, and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; …They were filled with the Holy Spirit …They were amazed and astonished”. (Acts 2: 1-2, 4, 7 Jerusalem Bible)
**Just a note about the image: Pentecost Mass in Rome is at the Pantheon. The firemen of Rome climb the dome and at the end of Mass pour thousands of rose petals through the occulus…..the tongues of fire!
KathrynCunningham
Kathryn is a retired junior high teacher. A convert with a love for the Church she believes that its teachings have a more than viable application for today's world. She writes practical theological for the people in the pews believing that they have as much right to good catechesis as our youth and converts. Her writings appear on Catholic web sites and local Church publications. She has even been published in the diocese of Australia and most recemtly Zenit. Kathryn holds a Master's in Theology and is a certified spiritual director. Learn more about Kathryn at: www.atravelersview.org
As noted this information is taken directly from scripture. You can also reference the gifts and the fruits of the the Spirit in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
This wind of the Spirit in our lives that you write about is right on! Pentecost is now! The fruits of the Spirit, wrapped up in that joy alive in our hearts can be discovered, rekindled, nurtured and most of all shared everywhere we are! A new website is dedicated to exploring and sharing that fire from deep within us and developing a Joy Alive Network of support. Check out: joyalive.net