Pentecost Sunday -- May 20, 2018

Readings:
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 [cf. 30]
1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Gal 5:16-25
John 20:19-23 or John 15:26-27; 16:12-15

Every faith community has the spiritual gifts needed for the mission of the Church and for the well- being of the community. That is a summary statement of the work of theologian, Edward Schillebeeckx. And it makes sense. Jesus built the early faith community out of fishermen and tax collectors, people from whom he’d driven 7 demons, boasters, betrayers, and people who slept when he wanted them to pray. Kind of like any faith community today. We are imperfect misfits who rely far more on God than on ourselves if we want to carry out Jesus’ mission and nurture our parish. Yet, we do the best we can and amazing things happen or not depending on how selflessly, intensely and regularly we pray.

Cooperating with Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit means we do not limit ourselves to rote prayer. We beg God’s help in each trying situation, each time we are at a loss for words, each time we reach for the phone, each time we are stuck, each time we do not know what to do. We pray when we are having a hard time forgiving. If we always know what to do or say than we are too full of ourselves and not relying upon God! We work as if all depends upon ourselves and pray knowing all depends upon God.

God renews the face of the earth with our cooperation. The Spirit reminds us there are no limits to the possibilities for good as we spread the warmth of God’s love!