Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, as the readings and the whole Church celebrate the coming and ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit among us. Jesus breathes on his jittery followers and tells them, “Peace be with you” and fills them with courage.
Monday is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Tuesday is the Memorial of St. Philip Neri, priest.
During the week, Mark’s Gospel offers us stories about sacrificing part of ourselves. We hear of the Rich Young Man: “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Peter tells Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus responds, “there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more.” When the disciples squabble over who will sit in glory with Jesus, he tells them, “the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Bartimaeus, a blind man recognizes Jesus as “Son of David” and is healed. Bartimaeus follows Jesus.
This week ends with the feast of the Most Holy Trinity.
Daily Prayer This Week
Pentecost, and our being renewed with the gifts of the Holy Spirt, comes at the end of the Easter Season, but as the birthday of the Church, it is a fitting beginning to our return to Ordinary Time. We can continue to ask that the Holy Spirit come into our hearts, to enkindle within us the fire of the Spirit’s Love. We can continue to ask that we be able to join the Spirit in our taking up our role in renewing the face of the earth. It is so appropriate that this takes us to remembering that Mary is the Mother of the Church, our mother in this Spirit-filled process of being Church together. We can ask Mary to place us with her Son this week.
We might find ourselves struggling with something or someone, here or there this week. We can turn to Jesus, in those little conversations, and feel the gift of his Spirit freeing us - as the Spirit always does - and enkindling a fire within us, which is always purifying and which always stirs love in our heart. These exercises of trust and renewal will refresh us in the times that tempt us to give in to what is cold and hard and dark. We can acknowledge the presence of the Spirit, the moment I turn for help and light and direction. And, in those moments, we can give thanks and embrace the gift.
Finally, we can let ourselves look for people in our lives, on our paths, who need comforting and the warmth of the Spirit to heal them and offer them peace. I can express me desire, “Lord, I so desire to be an instrument of your Spirit’s peace and a channel for reconciliation and healing.” The Spirit will respond when we pray with that openness and desire.