Gospel Reflections for June 9 2019
What is God’s will for you?
This feast has the answer for you.
Many years ago I was at a parish that had an actual graduation ceremony for the Kindergarten Class …complete with cap and gowns! Of course, it was a very charming event. As they walked out in solemn procession after the ceremony, one dad turned to me and said, “well, I guess he has to get a job now!” Everyone broke out in good natured laughter.
There is a sense that something important should happen after a graduation ceremony like that, and that graduates should know their job and get on with it. This is what happens at that first Pentecost that we celebrate today. (Pentecost simply means fifty days after Easter)
On that day, perhaps over one hundred disciples of Jesus are in a room when the Holy Spirit comes upon them in a dramatic and personal way. They then burst out of that room and courageously share their faith with everyone they meet. They each felt they had a job to do.
The Holy Spirit is simply the love of God. So what is Love, really? Love is wishing the authentic good of another, and actually doing something about it. Love calls you to actively promote the wellbeing of another person as God intends. Love causes you to actually do something! For example…
Love caused God to create you, so that you might find happiness in your life.
Love caused God to send His Son, Jesus, to personally show you this same love.
Love caused Jesus to show that same love even while crucified on a cross.
Love caused the Holy Spirit to energize His disciples to share that same love everywhere.
Love can motivate you to use your life and talents in the same way.
What is God’s will for you? Whatever makes your life more generous to those around you. You can do this as a mother, father, brother, sister, plumber, truck driver, lawyer, doctor, assembly line worker, nurse, teacher, or shop worker. Every job or place in life is noble when done with love.
Last Friday, I celebrated the graduation of our great 8th Grade Class. Although a job is a long way off for them, I hope they still recognize their mission is to let the Holy Spirit guide them to love others.
That makes their life noble now, long before they ever look for a job!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thanks you Father Dave – ‘LOVE’ Perfectly explained! If we don’t love each other, then what are we doing here? Question is to how one might acquire ‘love’ or the Holy Spirit into one’s heart? Prayer 🙏 with the source of Love, Our Father who art in heaven….
Well said!
Beatifully expressed Father Dave!! Our Jesus lived and expressed it preciously!! ” Love one another as I have loved you!!!To live our Jesus giving love is the heart of our life!! Love is who we are!!! Love is what we do!! Love is why we’re here!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!! Lets live Jesus’ LOVE!!!! and make the world beautiful!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Fr, Dave,
A blessed, safe trip as you share Christ ‘s love & your love of the Holy Land. I will be praying for all of you!
Blessings,
Kathy Jones
Thank you!
Love this reflection. Hope it is okay for me to share some of it with the men at the prison, where I volunteer. This will comfort them, and Jesus said, “comfort the prisoners”.
I am so glad my article might help some of the men there!
We have the assurance of the Holy Spirit that He will be with us until the “End
of the age.”
Having read the life stories of the new priests, I’m reminded of a fresh beginning
for our church that badly needs good shepherds to bring the good news of salvation
to a suffering church. We need the Holy Spirit to help us to be a little more like Jesus
each day.
.
Yes, their ordination is a sign of great hope!
Dear Father Dave,
Your weekly gospel messages are so poignant and appreciated.
As we go through life, we meet all kinds of people from different walks of life. Sometimes these individuals become friends, which can be lovely.
Every now and then my high school class (St. Luke’s on the East Coast) has a reunion. The last one I attended was about ten years ago, and at the time I was struck with how similar our basic beliefs were. Yes, we had our individual personalities, but the underlying common denominator was ever present. We had all been shaped by Catholic educations and backgrounds.
I had never noticed this phenomenon beforehand, and it was astonishing.
Perhaps it was the work of the Holy Spirit nudging, molding, and guiding us.
Hope all is well on your journey to the Holy Land. God bless.
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Thank you for sharing your insights from your reunion. Our faith is a link that connects us all.
Beautiful message, Fr. Dave. Thanks!
Best wishes for another wonderful trip to the Holy Land. Hope we can have another “movie night” soon..
We did have a great trip to the Holy Land again this year. Still my favorite event of the year. Yes, movie night soon.