The Holy Spirit - God’s Gift of Love to His People
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22
This weekend we celebrate Pentecost – the sending of the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, Counselor and guide – to come and dwell within us, to live in our hearts. Last week we celebrated the Ascension when Jesus returned to the Father to sit at his right hand. Yet he promised to send his Holy Spirit to be with us, until the end of time.
I first met my wife, Jeanette, while we were both attending Rice University. We were not married yet, so when summer vacation rolled around I returned to my parent’s home in New Jersey while Jeanette went back home to her parents here in Houston. Now this was in the days long before email, instant messaging, cell phones or unlimited nationwide long distance call plans. So what we did was to call each other and let the phone ring once and then hang up. Our families knew not to answer the phone until it rang twice.This was our way of letting each other know, “I am thinking of you and I love you.”
God does the same thing. He sends constant reminders saying, “I am thinking of you and I love you.” He reminds us of his love and his presence through his Holy Word, Sacred Scripture. He reminds us in the beauty of creation – a beautiful sunrise or a mountain stream. He reminds us in the birth of a child. Paradoxically, God even reminds us in the death of a loved one. “I am thinking of you and I love you.”
Of course the greatest and most profound way that God reminds us of his constant love for us is through the Sacraments – those outwards signs and symbols, instituted by Christ that give grace and remind us of the reality of God’s love. The Sacraments do not change God; they change us by allowing us to experience this invisible reality already present. Through the Sacraments, God’s love and grace are made present for us.
But wait. There’s still more. Each time we gather together in the Eucharist, God isn’t just spiritually present, he is physically present – Body and Blood, soul and Divinity. How do we know? We know because Jesus told us. “This is my Body. This is my Blood.” May we experience and know God’s great for love for us. May we in turn, through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, share that love with all the world.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Blessings,
Deacon Jack
P.S.
I invite you, wherever you are, to join us for the Pentecost Liturgy (Birthday of the Church). Here is the schedule for this weekend: Sat 4:30 pm; Sunday 9:00 and & specially at 5:30 pm Bill Baker will be brought into the Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Please keep Bill and his family in your prayer. You have 3 options to choose from:
If you are, for whatever reason, unable to join us physically, please tune in and join us virtually. Live stream is still available.
If you are able to come, please join us. We will try to accommodate safe social-distance spaces for you to worship both outside in the Narthex and in the climate controlled parish hall.
If you feel uncomfortable around the crowds, come anyway! We have a designated RED parking lot reserved especially for YOU with audio fed so that you are able to participate Mass inside of your car with us. Communion will be brought to you. Don't let the circumstance steal you from receiving Our Lord! We are here for YOU! Looking forward to celebrating with y'all.