Pentecost

Stained glass from my first NY parish in New Hyde Park.

As we celebrate today the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Blessed Mother, I am reminded of the role of the Spirit by a quote from Pope Francis. A few years ago he said that the ‘the Holy Spirit doesn’t sit still...in Maltese m’għandux kwiet f’ġismu!’ Like that 3-year old toddler who cannot sit still, but touches and moves everything within his reach, He is always moving things around, shaking us, irritating us, always pushing our buttons, and pushing the church along, and forward. But at the same time, He is consoling us, instigating us to move onwards cautiously. But to many of us, this tactic annoys us and troubles us. We prefer to keep things as they are. Even in our parishes and communities, we feel comfortable the way we are, and we don’t feel like changing our lifestyle. But this is exactly the challenge that the Spirit of Jesus is giving us today. He wants to move us from our comfort zone, from that corner where we feel at home to do something more. In our home, we all have that favorite chair or sofa, and on them we usually sit to watch some TV, to read, to rest, to put our feet up and relax. And it often happens that when you’re not in your place, you feel annoyed, irritated and flustered at times, especially if someone else takes your favorite place. It happens even in our churches when someone takes your favorite place or seat. That’s the role of the Holy Spirit, to move you and upset you from your comfort-zone, and challenges you to do better, to do more, to become holier. Let us welcome Him today in our homes and hearts and let Him guide us faithfully.