I just got home from church. We go every Sunday as a family, and I'm often very blessed by what I hear there. To be honest, I'm also often distracted and not paying attention. I used to blame it on the small babies and kids that I was surrounded with, but I really can't anymore -- they are getting so much bigger and more able to sit through the hour long service. I think I have an easily distracted nature. Something to think about and work on...
Anyway, the last two weeks' homilies have been quite inspiring and a more than a little convicting for me.
Last Sunday was the Feast of the Ascension where we remembered Jesus' being taken back up into heaven after His death and resurrection. He gave His final instructions to His followers and the apostles, and then left them, promising to return. He left behind a Church to continue on with His work, the work of the gospel. Our pastor, Msgr. Sork, told a little story about a possible "conversation" between Jesus and the angel Gabriel upon His return to heaven. I'll have to retell it the best I can...
Gabriel asks Jesus how everything went, and Jesus told him that He had left everything in the care of the apostles. Gabriel was surprised and questioned Jesus about that decision. He pointed out all the flaws of these followers of Jesus, sins, denials, etc. Jesus told Gabriel that these men would carry on the work. Gabriel asked, "What if they don't? What if they don't do it?" Jesus answered, "I have no other plan."
This was a good reminder to me that I have a responsibility to be the hands and feet of Jesus. If I, as His follower, don't do the work, there is no other plan. If I don't speak the truth, if I don't care for the poor, if I don't preach the gospel with words and deeds, if I don't do the things He did, there is no other plan. Christ has no body now but mine.
Today is Pentecost Sunday. This is the day we remember when the Holy Spirit first came to the disciples of Jesus. This goes hand in hand with the instructions at the time of the Ascension. Jesus told them what to do, and then reminded them that they would not have to do it alone. He would send them help, a Helper, to be exact. The Holy Spirit.
Our homily today, given by Msgr. Zak, who will be (sadly) leaving us for another parish in a couple weeks, addressed the fruit of the Holy Spirit, found in Galatians 5, and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He, to my great delight, had an actual copy of the CCC in mass with him and recommended everyone going and getting their own copies for their homes. I love this!
CCC 1832 says: "The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: 'charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.'" He was telling us how easy it is for us to tell if the "breath" we're feeling from a certain source is from the Holy Spirit or not. If it has these qualities, as opposed to anger, hatred, jealousy, etc, then it is from the Holy Spirit. He also made the point of asking us which type of fruit we are offering to those around us. Uh oh. I can name seven, easily, that I fail to show at any given time. Probably more if I give it some thought.
I want to find a way to post these 12 fruits around my house. Or maybe I should try to work on just one at a time. Baby steps? Hmmmm...
