Dear Parish Family:
We are completing our 50 days of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The Disciples must have been sad to see Jesus taken up into heaven, and told to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Wait they did, and I love how Luke expresses this period of waiting; “When the day of Pentecost came, they were gathered in one room, with one mind and heart eager to receive the Spirit.” (Acts 2:2)
How wonderful to be so focused as a community in one mind and one heart all on the same mission; and because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit we are here today as a faith community and thousands of faith communities throughout the world assemble in belief of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
We wear red on Pentecost Sunday to remind ourselves of the unity we share as followers of Jesus Christ and the flames of the Holy Spirit that send us forth into the world to invite all to follow Jesus Christ. At the end of the weekend Masses I will carry the Pascal Candle out of the church to remind us all that we are to bring the light of Christ into the world.
Those who gathered for the Easter Vigil April 15th surely remember how wonderful it was to bask in the candle-lit church as we sang together our praise of the light of Christ and His resurrection from the dead. May we carry that same light and Spirit into our conversations, our gatherings, our encounters and never hide the joy that comes from knowing Jesus Christ and Him risen from the dead.
Many try to snuff out the light of Christ by criticism, complaint, and negativity; these choke the Lord’s Word in us. Let’s make sure we are not among them, and let’s together go out to all the world and tell the Good News!
Happy Easter!
Fr. Bill