Daily Retreat 05/27/07
2007 May 27 SUN: PENTECOST S
Vigil: Gn 11:1-9, Ex 19:3-8.16-20, Ez 37:1-14 or Jl 3:1-5/Ps 103(104)/Rom 8:22-27/Jn 7:37-39
Day: Acts 2:1-11/ Ps 103(104):1. 24. 29-30. 31. 34/Rom 8:8-17/Jn 14:15-16.23b-26
From today's readings: "When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.... Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.... For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.... The Advocate, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."
Fireworks Festivities
In a few weeks, we Americans will be celebrating the birthday of our country on the Fourth of July: we'll take the day off work, and try to spend our time in some refined leisure, such as swimming and splashing in a cool lake, munching on a juicy watermelon, roasting hot dogs on the grill, or watching a splendid parade march to the tune of Yankee Doodle. Best of all, at night, there are the fireworks! The twinkling stars fade into the background as the black sky is painted with red, white, and blue, and other dazzling colors of the flying flames of our fireworks. The flowers and showers of brilliant light spark with a life of their own as they witness to the ardor of our patriotism. As we gaze upon a whole horizon aglow with the glory of our festivities, we're wont to smile, and reflect on how fitting a sign are these festivities: the birth of our great nation is such a momentous occasion that we insist that the heavens themselves join in our merrymaking!
But our Pentecost celebration today is for an even greater feast. For it is not the birth of our 200-year-old nation, but the birth of our 2000-year-old Church that we rejoice in this day. Holy Scripture explains how this occasion also includes a display of works of fire, but there is a difference: On Independence Day, we celebrate with earthly fire hurled heavenward, but today we celebrate with heavenly fire sent earthward! The fire of our exploding rockets burns only briefly, but the fire of the Holy Spirit can inflame our hearts forever. Yes, today is nothing less than a celestial feast day, for on this day God showers His Church with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and invites us to His banquet of celebration.
With the flickering flame of a single match, you can light one of those little spinning ground flower fireworks. Once it's lit, it will whiz, and whirl, and smoke, and flash flames of fire, but only the people on your block will be able to enjoy the sight of its wild dance. With the same match, though, you can ignite an awesome gigantic aerial rocket, that zooms high into the sky and thunders like a cannon so that everyone in the city can witness its beauty! The same is true of that tongue of God's fire hovering over each of us: we might use that marvelous flame merely to kindle a rather timid faith, real enough in itself, but never burning brightly enough to warm those outside of the walls of our homes. Or, we can use that marvelous flame to ignite in our hearts the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit, fire that illuminates our daily lives, fire which cannot be contained by any walls, and will spread, bringing the warmth of Christ to everyone we meet. Our celebration today is as glorious as that first Pentecost, but there are people missing the festivities! We are celebrating today only because all those in the upper room needed to share their joy and spread the gospel. Are we ready to do the same? Evangelization can be easy when you're playing with heavenly fire - welcome to the party, and let the fireworks begin!
Vigil: Gn 11:1-9, Ex 19:3-8.16-20, Ez 37:1-14 or Jl 3:1-5/Ps 103(104)/Rom 8:22-27/Jn 7:37-39
Day: Acts 2:1-11/ Ps 103(104):1. 24. 29-30. 31. 34/Rom 8:8-17/Jn 14:15-16.23b-26
From today's readings: "When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.... Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.... For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.... The Advocate, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."
Fireworks Festivities
In a few weeks, we Americans will be celebrating the birthday of our country on the Fourth of July: we'll take the day off work, and try to spend our time in some refined leisure, such as swimming and splashing in a cool lake, munching on a juicy watermelon, roasting hot dogs on the grill, or watching a splendid parade march to the tune of Yankee Doodle. Best of all, at night, there are the fireworks! The twinkling stars fade into the background as the black sky is painted with red, white, and blue, and other dazzling colors of the flying flames of our fireworks. The flowers and showers of brilliant light spark with a life of their own as they witness to the ardor of our patriotism. As we gaze upon a whole horizon aglow with the glory of our festivities, we're wont to smile, and reflect on how fitting a sign are these festivities: the birth of our great nation is such a momentous occasion that we insist that the heavens themselves join in our merrymaking!
But our Pentecost celebration today is for an even greater feast. For it is not the birth of our 200-year-old nation, but the birth of our 2000-year-old Church that we rejoice in this day. Holy Scripture explains how this occasion also includes a display of works of fire, but there is a difference: On Independence Day, we celebrate with earthly fire hurled heavenward, but today we celebrate with heavenly fire sent earthward! The fire of our exploding rockets burns only briefly, but the fire of the Holy Spirit can inflame our hearts forever. Yes, today is nothing less than a celestial feast day, for on this day God showers His Church with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and invites us to His banquet of celebration.
With the flickering flame of a single match, you can light one of those little spinning ground flower fireworks. Once it's lit, it will whiz, and whirl, and smoke, and flash flames of fire, but only the people on your block will be able to enjoy the sight of its wild dance. With the same match, though, you can ignite an awesome gigantic aerial rocket, that zooms high into the sky and thunders like a cannon so that everyone in the city can witness its beauty! The same is true of that tongue of God's fire hovering over each of us: we might use that marvelous flame merely to kindle a rather timid faith, real enough in itself, but never burning brightly enough to warm those outside of the walls of our homes. Or, we can use that marvelous flame to ignite in our hearts the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit, fire that illuminates our daily lives, fire which cannot be contained by any walls, and will spread, bringing the warmth of Christ to everyone we meet. Our celebration today is as glorious as that first Pentecost, but there are people missing the festivities! We are celebrating today only because all those in the upper room needed to share their joy and spread the gospel. Are we ready to do the same? Evangelization can be easy when you're playing with heavenly fire - welcome to the party, and let the fireworks begin!
posted by FrPitstick | 5/26/2007
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