St James Catholic Church

This weekend we complete the fifty-day celebration of Easter with the feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.  As the world was transformed when Christ was born, making God incarnate in our world, the world is transformed once again with God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to the baptized, making God’s present continuously and forever in our world.  We have a beautiful stained glass window in the far left of the sanctuary depicting the Holy Spirit descending in the sacrament of confirmation with God’s sevenfold gifts of wisdom and understanding; right judgment and courage, knowledge and reverence, and wonder.

Last week on the feast of the Ascension we heard, “you are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48).  Yes, the apostles were witnesses of the risen Lord and his ascension to glory, not to mention all his preaching, teaching, and healing.  But what good is it to witness something if you do not testify to it?  And what good is it to testify to something if no one understands you?  The very first thing that the Holy Spirit enables the disciples to do is to proclaim the mighty acts of God in ways that everyone, no matter their background, no matter their language, no matter their native country can understand.

The first sign of the Spirit was a strong driving wind, which entered and filled the entire house.  The wind cannot be seen, but it can be felt and we can see its effects, whether it’s the gentle breeze fluttering the leaves on the tree or destructive swirling gusts of a tornado.  Similarly, we cannot see the Holy Spirit, but we can feel effects; a gentle nudge to reach out to someone in need when we’re reluctant to do so or an overpowering urge to turn our lives around.  The world is so divided.  But the language that everyone recognizes and knows is the language of love.  As the Church born on Pentecost, we have the command and responsibility to speak and live God’s good news, and God’s love and forgiveness to others.

Love, Peace, Joy,

Fr. Bob