Pentecost

predmore.blogspot.com

May 20, 2018

Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23

Pentecost signals the arrival of the Holy Spirit to begin the life of the Church. The church is never static, and the Spirit transforms believers into a community of holiness. The Spirit breathes life into the sacred Scriptures and it animates God’s will so that God’s presence is brought to mind.

I associate life-giving breath with the Holy Spirit and here are some moments within my past week when I have thanked the Spirit for its presence. I watched a hospitalized man with shortness of breath because of lung cancer receive the sacraments of reconciliation, anointing, and communion. His wife remarked at his serene countenance and calmness during his medical procedures. His breath slowed as he took in more oxygen.

Mother’s Day weekend was filled with families strolling through gardens where lilacs bloomed. At each colored bush, flower lovers deeply inhaled the fragrances that brought smiles to their faces. On that same day, I walked in the community gardens after the heavy rains and I noticed the distinct pleasant aromas in the air. It reminded me of my mother’s life and I was filled, not with sadness because of my mother’s death, but gladness for the memories of a happy life. Each breath I took in was one of gratitude and comfort.

Breath is needed for us to do our best very – all for the greater glory of God. I am preparing to sing in a double-quartet at our upcoming concert. Our rehearsals always begin with deep breathing and breath-sustaining exercises because breath is foundational to every activity. Likewise, an athlete needs to build up lung stamina to compete.

The Spirit breathes life into each mass we celebrate, and I become more aware of the Spirit’s function to gather us together, to offer our prayers, to sanctify our gifts, to present them to God, who blesses them. The Spirit raises our hearts and minds to God and makes us strive to imitate Jesus. The mass cannot be said without the aid of the Spirit, who gives us a lasting gift that no one can take away.

Peace, the Spirit’s gift, is needed each day. When we are down, the Spirit comforts and gives us hope. When we are fearful, the Spirit gives us assurance that all will be fine. When we are lonely, the Spirit reminds us of all who love us. When we are angry, the Spirit gives us patience and temperance. When we are sad, the Spirit sends us someone to cheer us up.

When we are inspired, the Spirit sustains our forward progress. The Spirit helps us dream. When we fall in love, the Spirit keeps us mindful of our beloved. The Spirit is going to keep us moving forward, ever outwards, with a love that is generous and wise. The Spirit is with us when we are moving from a place of good to an even better place. It will always take us to a more loving place in God’s life.

As the Spirit comes into our life today, let’s breathe deeply and give thanks for the good that is occurring. Let’s breathe new life into those places that are burdensome and painful. Let us remember that the Spirit will transform ordinary events into divine ones, and that we will grow in wisdom and grace for others who are searching for the way forward.

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading: 

Monday: (Genesis 3) After Adam had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to him and asked him, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself."

Tuesday: (James 4) do you suppose that the Scripture speaks without meaning when it says, The spirit that he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy? But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Wednesday: (James 4) "Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit"– you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.

Thursday: (James 5) Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days.

Friday (James 5) Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.

Saturday (James 5) Beloved: Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing a song of praise. Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

Gospel: 

Monday: (John 19) Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother."

Tuesday: (Mark 9) "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

Wednesday (Mark 9) John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us."

Thursday (Mark 9) Jesus said to his disciples: "Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

Friday (Mark 10) "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment.

Saturday (Mark 10) People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw t he became indignant and said to them,
"Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Saints of the Week

May 20: Bernardine of Siena, priest, (1380-1444) was from a family of nobles who cared for the sick during plagues. He entered the Franciscans and preached across northern and central Italy with homilies that understood the needs of the laity. He became vicar general and instituted reforms.

May 21: Christopher Magallanes, priest and companions, martyrs (1869-1927) was a Mexican priest who served the indigenous people by forming agrarian communities. He opened seminaries when the ant-Catholic government kept shutting them down. He was arrested and executed with 21 priests and 3 laymen.

May 22: Rita of Cascia, religious (1381-1457), always wanted to become a nun but her family married her off to an abusive man. He was murdered 18 years later. Rita urged forgiveness when her two sons wanted to avenge their father's murder. They soon died too. Rita wanted to enter a convent, but he marital status kept her out. Eventually, the Augustinians in Cascia admitted her. She became a mystic and counselor to lay visitors.

May 24: Our Lady of the Way or in Italian, Madonna della Strada, is a painting enshrined at the Church of the Gesu in Rome, the mother church of the Society of Jesus. The Madonna Della Strada is the patroness of the Society of Jesus. In 1568, Cardinal Farnese erected the Gesu in place of the former church of Santa Maria della Strada. 

May 25: Bede the Venerable, priest and doctor, (673-735), is the only English doctor of the church. As a child, he was sent to a Benedictine monastery where he studied theology and was ordained. He wrote thorough commentaries on scripture and history as well as poetry and biographies. His famous work is the "Ecclesiastical History of the English People," the source for much of Anglo-Saxon history.

May 25: Gregory VII, pope (1020-1085), was a Tuscan who was sent to a monastery to study under John Gratian, who became Gregory VI. He served the next few popes as chaplain, treasurer, chancellor and counselor before he became Gregory VII. He introduced strong reforms over civil authorities that caused much consternation. Eventually, the Romans turned against him when the Normans sacked Rome.

May 25: Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi (1566-1607), a Florentine, chose to become a Carmelite nun instead of getting married. Her biography, written by her confessor, gives accounts of intense bouts of desolation and joy. She is reputed to have gifts of prophecy and healing.

May 26: Philip Neri, priest (1515-1595), is known as the "Apostle of Rome." A Florentine who was educated by the Dominicans, he re-evangelized Roe by establishing confraternities of laymen to minister to pilgrims and the sick in hospitals. He founded the Oratorians when he gathered a sufficient following because of his spiritual wisdom.

This Week in Jesuit History

·      May 20, 1521. Ignatius was seriously wounded at Pamplona, Spain, while defending its fortress against the French.

·      May 21, 1925. Pius XI canonizes Peter Canisius, with Teresa of the Child Jesus, Mary Madeleine Postal, Madeleine Sophie Barat, John Vianney, and John Eudes. Canisius is declared a Doctor of the Church.

·      May 22, 1965. Pedro Arrupe was elected the 28th general of the Society of Jesus.

·      May 23, 1873. The death of Peter de Smet, a famous missionary among Native Americans of the great plains and mountains of the United States. He served as a mediator and negotiator of several treaties.

·      May 24, 1834. Don Pedro IV expelled the Society from Brazil.

·      May 25, 1569. At Rome Pope St Pius V installed the Society in the College of Penitentiaries. Priests of various nationalities who were resident in Rome were required to act as confessors in St Peter's.

·      May 26, 1673. Ching Wei‑San (Emmanuel de Sigueira) dies, the first Chinese Jesuit priest.