HOMILY FROM FATHER STEPHEN FOR PENTECOST
Introduction – Pentecost – (taken from John Docherty’s Weekly bulletin)
Over the last few weeks, we have looked at the first readings during the Sundays of Eastertide, taken from the Acts of the Apostles – examining what they can show us about how to be the Church today. This week is the last in the series, and is, in a sense, its climax: the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-11). That is why Acts of the Apostles is sometimes called “the Gospel of the Holy Spirit”.
Originally Pentecost was a Jewish festival called the Feast of Weeks, celebrated on the fiftieth day after the beginning of the grain harvest. It was a major feast and very popular, when Jews came to Jerusalem from all over the area to celebrate. Pentecost, seen as the birthday of the Christian Church, is the culmination of Eastertide. It is the day when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the start of the Church’s mission to the world – a mission to bring people to God
Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church
Feast day in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to be kept on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday. This year, the feast falls on Monday, 1st June.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all the sick and those who care for them, and also with those who have died and their families who mourn their loss. We remember those families, young people and colleagues for whom this time is very challenging:
“May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord turn His face toward you and grant you peace.”
Homily – Pentecost – Gifted Communicators
Have you ever watched a TED Talk? There are thousands available online. The powerful talks are generally less than 18 minutes and cover a huge range of topics, from science to business to social and global issues. There are talks in more than 110 languages, and they are used in schools, businesses and many other settings to educate, motivate and open minds. While the speakers come from a variety of backgrounds, the one thing they have in common is their ability to communicate. They are gifted communicators, with a passion for a particular subject, and the ability to draw their listeners in.
We often hear that in order to be a good communicator, we have to learn how to speak another person’s language. On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit each of the people gathered heard them speaking in his or her own language. The ability to communicate and to be understood was the first gift they received from the Holy Spirit.
Today, we need the gift of communication more than ever. There are times when we have the opportunity to share our faith, or to witness to others in the way we live our faith. We might feel that we struggle to share our faith in a way that others can understand. In order to meet people where they are, we first need to ‘speak their language’ – to know them, listen to them and recognise God’s presence in them. The Spirit that came upon the early believers is the same Spirit that guides us today.
It’s fifty days since we celebrated Easter, when we shouted out ‘We are Easter People’ full of joy and excitement, full of zest and energy and full of faith and hope. It has been a very different Easter this year with Covid.
In the readings the disciples were worried and in darkness after Christ left them at the Ascension. They were self-isolating in a room together with Our Lady. And that is what we have done for the last ten weeks. We have self-isolated from our family, friends and loved ones. Positively we start to appreciate those dear and close to us. We appreciate the people around us and our work and our daily tasks. The disciples were frightened at this time in the church. We too are afraid of the present and what the future will bring. We look at the Acts of the Apostles and see a different Peter, Paul. John and all the other disciples. We see determination, fearlessness in preaching the Gospel message. Why? because the Holy Spirit filled them with courage. And that same Holy Spirit comes upon us today. He does the same to us, as he did to the disciples.
We should have been celebrating Confirmations in the Cathedral with Bishop John and myself and St Joseph’s and Our Lady of the Missions Primary Schools, and all other kids across the Diocese during these 50 days. Sadly we aren’t but when we do it will be amazing! The Holy Spirit hasn’t abandoned us! He recharges us today with His seven gifts. Gifts we need every day of our lives, not just today because of the virus and the uncertainty, but every day and every experience life brings us – whether we be in P7, or a seminarian or a parent or someone struggling with an abdication or someone struggling with mental anxiety.
The P7 pupils would have received Wisdom, Understanding, Courage, Knowledge, Reverence, Fear of the Lord and Right Judgement. What rare and beautiful gifts we are ready to receive! These gifts have kept us all safe and sane under lockdown. But probably most Right Judgement, or Counsel as it’s sometimes called, is the most precious gift to receive at this time during the virus. How we have needed it to help us say the right thing at the right time – or keep our mouths shut. To do the right thing at the right time – or take a step back!
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are alive and active in our lives if only we would use them. Do not be afraid! They are there to offer us strength and conviction, as it did for the Apostles. Let’s pray that the Feast of Pentecost will pour out all of the Holy Spirit on us and fill us with joy, hope and love. The Holy Spirit has got us this far under lockdown, He won’t abandon us now. He will guide us through these days, where we appreciate our past and positively look forward to the future. Whatever worry or anxiety we have, let’s us place them into the power of the Holy Spirit.
