Meditation Fourteen, Second Week of June, 2003

Pentecost

Readings: John 16: 1 - 11; Acts 2: 1 - 36; Gal. 5: 22 - 23

Next to the Resurrection, the most thrilling event in the New Testament is the coming of the Holy Spirit. We might ask ourselves what the history of Christianity would have been like if the Holy Spirit had not come in this startling and remarkable way. The Holy Spirit in some real way was always with the apostles, since they were in the state of grace. Pentecost is the celebration of the obvious and undeniable way that the followers of Christ are filled with the Holy Spirit - a way that leads, according to St. Paul, to the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, courage, loyalty and reverence. In our own times we have seen the fruits of the Holy Spirit in many movements of the Church ranging from the Charismatic Renewal, which is explicitly related to Pentecost, to the Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, and many other movements, including those dedicated to Our Lady. It is worthwhile to mention to the members of the Oratory that St. Catherine of Genoa explicitly referred to the baptism of the Holy Spirit when describing a sudden experience of conversion and enlightenment. The annual liturgical celebration of Pentecost gives each one of us a chance to ask ourselves if we are open to the Holy Spirit and to His inspirations. Do I ask His guidance and am I willing to make the sacrifices to follow the inspiration? We often do not follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit because they will require sacrifice. The other problem is that we can easily assume that our own pet theories are the voice of the Holy Spirit. For this reason the guidance and governance of the Church, the community of Christ, is necessary to see that we are not just following our own ideas.

Quotation for Meditation Come

Holy Spirit

Come, O Holy Spirit,
Thou From the heavenly regions now
Beams of light impart.

Come, Thou father of the poor
Come, Thou source of all our store
Gladden every heart.

 

Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul's most welcome guest,
Sweet refreshment here below.

 

In our labor rest most sweet
Grateful coolness in the heat,
Solace in the midst of woe.

 

O Most Blessed Light Divine
Come within these hearts of Thine
And our inmost being fill.

 

Heal our wounds, our strength renew,
On our dryness pour Thy dew
Wash the stains of guilt away.

Bend the stubborn heart and will
Melt the frozen, warm the chill,
Guide the steps that go astray.

 

On thy faithful who implore
And confess Thee evermore In
Thy sevenfold gifts descend.

Give us virtues' sure reward,
Give us Thy salvation, Lord,
Give us joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia.

 

Quiet Time and Then Discussion

Questions for Meditation