The Ongoing Gift of the Spirit

As we come to the end of the Easter Season with our celebration of Pentecost, we would do well to remember that we are not celebrating an historical event. By that I mean that Pentecost, like the Incarnation itself, is not an event that began and ended one day in our history. The Incarnation is still unfolding. Pentecost continues to happen in our day to day lives each and every time that we cooperate with God's grace.

Pentecost happens each time we turn to an estranged friend or relative and forgive them with all our hearts.

Pentecost happens each time we practice a random act of kindness.

Pentecost happens each time we set aside our own needs in order to serve the needs of others.

Pentecost happens each time we wipe away a tear, each time we restore a smile.

The Holy Spirit lives among us. Our task is to break the human bars that imprison it like a bird in a cage, to let it roam freely through our world, bringing the gift of recreation. Each time we set out to restore creation to its original splendor, Pentecost happens.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator