Today we celebrate Pentecost. I remember when I led a pilgrimage to Israel, Green and Rome in 1999. We concluded the pilgrimage in Rome and celebrated the Vigil of Pentecost at St. Peter's square with the Pope and 1/4 million others. What a great feast! There were people from all around the world. The readings were read in many different languages. It was inspiring to see believers of every race, color and nation.
God says, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh...your young will dream dreams and your old will see visions." God's Spirit is for everyone, and certainly for you. I pray this feast of Pentecost will awaken your heart to the presence of God's Spirit within you. May your prayer life, spiritual life and total life be revolutionized by God's love poured into your heart through the Holy Spirit! May you come to know God intimately and personally through the Glorious Holy Spirit! Be filled with God's Spirit in Jesus' name. Amen!
Mission accomplished at St. Anthony's in Fresno! Wed. night we all heard about and received the Holy Spirit as we await Pentecost on Sunday. What a gracious reception I received from the people after! I'll never forget the people in Fresno. Wow.
I'm up in the Sierra Nevadas (Google Lake Almanor) and with my friends at their parent's cabin right on the lake. Lovely place. Brrrr. In the 40's right now and it rained last night. The clouds should clear later today and warm up some. What a refreshing change from the hussle and bussle of the mission. I'll be here until Sunday, then I will drive to our retreat center in Sacramento, then fly out of Sac on Monday back to Houston. On Sat. Janice is giving a "mercy" retreat for the parish up here and I will preside at Mass Sat. am. On this last mission they bought so many books! Perhaps 5th all time out of all the parishes I've been to. I won't forget the folks in Fresno. What a blessing. Come Holy Spirit! Pentecost dawns soon.
The two pictures below were taken at the mission. Top: Main Sanctuary about 500 per night. Bottom: Guadalupe chapel about 250 each morning.
In years past we used to extinguish the Paschal (Easter) candle on the feast of the ascension. The meaning was that Jesus had ascended and was now gone. Now we leave it lit because his ascension means he is actually closer to us now through the Holy Spirit! During this Pentecost novena, may you be filled with power and the wonderful sense of God's presence in your life. Jesus is Lord and now fills the world with his presence. I pray that you receive explosive, energizing, electric power.
Easter is a 50 day season of grace. Read my reflection at: EASTER
