Pentecost

How do you recognize the Holy Spirit? This is a difficult task and one that comes with some hesitation for us Catholics. Most of us are not comfortable talking about this.

Perhaps the better question is, When have you experienced or recognized the Holy Spirit? Take some time to think about that using the same experiences of the apostles at Pentecost to guide you.

In the story from the Acts of the Apostles, the first disciples were finally all together because Matthias was chosen to take the place of Judas. In other words, their team was whole again. Suddenly they saw, heard and felt the movement of a strong driving wind.

What outstanding, powerful, even life changing things have you seen, heard and felt?

When has something come upon you suddenly that you felt, heard or saw? I don’t want you to focus on church or religion, although they may have played a part in your powerful experience. When has this happened in your life?

I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life through teamwork and athletics. I felt an enabling spirit much larger than myself, galvanizing others with me, to do things I didn’t think we or I could do. After being on losing teams all four years of high school I was suddenly working alongside other players who were very talented in college. That was the galvanizing, energizing spirit of teamwork and accomplishment I had hoped for in high school but never came close to realizing. This was accomplished with a group of very diverse individuals from varied socioeconomic backgrounds. 

I have consistently heard honest feedback and input thus far in our Conversations in the Spirit as a part of our Be More: Movement of Growth. I have strongly felt the movement of the Holy Spirit as people take the time to listen to each other respectfully. Already over 150 people, including teens and our Academy’s faculty, have gathered, broken into groups of 5-6 and been led through a structured conversation punctuated with silence and inviting ALL to share their thoughts uninterrupted. After all speak and are listened to, a large group discussion concludes the session.

Please take one of the cards in the pews this weekend for more details and a QR code to sign up for a Conversation in the Spirit.

This leads me to the other powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Pentecost story. The Spirit enabled them to speak in different languages so they could carry out the commission of Jesus to baptize, teach and convey an eternal message of Christ’s presence for all time to ALL nations. We may not all have to speak in different tongues to experience the Spirit, but when we accomplish something special, I believe that is the manifestation of the Spirit. When have you accomplished something that you didn’t think was possible?

However, may I make an important distinction, one that I emphasize over and over with our teens preparing for Confirmation, the sacrament that focuses on the coming of the Holy Spirit? The sudden ability to speak in different languages was not simply important because it enabled the disciples to do something they couldn’t previously do—IT ENABLED THEM TO DO WHAT JESUS CHRIST COMMISSIONED THEM TO DO.

Matthew’s Gospel tells us that Jesus commissioned the disciples to baptize ALL nations just before he ascended into heaven. Speaking in different languages enabled them to carry out that commission.

This leads to a couple of important questions in considering the impact of the Holy Spirit in your life.

When has the Spirit enabled you to do what God has called you to do? Do you focus more on what you need to do or what God has called you to do? 

If you are looking for another simple yet powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit, consider this weekend’s Gospel from John. It tells us that we receive the Holy Spirit when we forgive. Think about the more meaningful experiences of forgiveness and reconciliation that you have had. Trust that the Holy Spirit was right in the middle of those moments.