Homily

Last Tuesday was the anniversary of my mother’s death in 2013. I got on a plane a day before the funeral and made it to San Francisco, but because of the weather and backed up and cancelled flights, after a number of hours it became clear I was never going to be able to get to Ohio before the funeral. I could not even get back to Eugene.

Sitting in the airport, I was thinking about missing the funeral, not being able to try and support my brothers and sister and not being with them and the other relatives, and I realized that was kind of a closed-in situation. By that I mean it dealt with spending time with family and relatives, so it was personal, very close to home, so in that way it was closed in. But at the same time, I was also thinking about how my Mom was no longer "closed-in" by time or space or the limits of physical life in this world. She had entered into eternal life and though I could not be present at that more "closed-in" event in Ohio, I could still be present with her now even sitting in the San Francisco airport as I prayed for the repose of her soul, and I could be present in a certain way with the other members of my family as I prayed for them also. The connections between people in the Body of Christ are not limited to being in a physical presence with one another.

When I think about the disciples and apostles of Jesus who followed Him during the three years of His public ministry, and I think you could say they too made up a rather "closed-in" group. They traveled and met other people along the way, but as a "closed-in" group of the Lord's followers, just as we would think of any group of people who followed their leader. The death of Jesus split up that "closed-in" relationship with Him, but then the resurrection restores it again but in a different and extraordinary way. Jesus prepares them for the time coming soon when He will no longer be with them in a physical way but in the presence of the life-giving Holy Spirit, they will still be in contact with Him sharing His own divine life, through that same Spirit Who would dwell within them.

On that great day of Pentecost when the Most Holy Spirit entered into the apostles bestowing upon them the gift of sharing in God's own divine life we see a dramatic change. They had been relying upon each other in that more "closed-in" group of disciples and I think they were still troubled by fears and doubts as they looked for support from their friends. Jesus has gone back to the Father, and what will happen next? When the sound of the rushing wind is heard and the tongues of fire are seen, as they gather together in that upper room, a great change takes place. No longer afraid they turn not towards each other, but outward, out toward the world to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ and of His gift of everlasting life, as we hear Peter's words in today's epistle.

This pattern is the pattern for Christians ever since that day. Yes, we come together here in a kind of "closed-in" situation as we worship the Lord together and receive Him in an intimate way in the Holy Eucharist. But then, like the apostles, we are called to go out and share Him and His gospel with the world. You may not be out on the streets preaching, but there are people out there, there are times and situations where you can, in one way or another, speak about your faith, witness to your belief in Christ as Lord and Savior. There are also plenty of opportunities to pray for others to help them and to make others the targets for our charity and virtue in the name of Christ our Lord, because that is part of living the Gospel. We don't have to neglect in any way our own closed-in circle of family and friends to do this. We simply need to focus more on the world outside of our inner circle and be willing to bring Christ's presence more completely into the world by our own actions, our words, and our prayers. So I suggest that during this great week of Pentecost we consider every day, and try to be aware every day not only how we can serve those who are close to us, but how we can also turn and try to reach out in one way or another to those outside, and to be ready to hear the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit when He prompts us to do or say something for the good of others and to pray not just for those who love us, but also for those others whom Christ loves.

I believe it’s a very good idea that during certain times of the year we make a concentrated and focused effort to grow in faith as disciples of Christ. Lent is such a time. I think this Pentecost week can also be a time to build up our life in Christ and our vocations as witnesses to His love.

Starting with today, let us spend seven days of thanksgiving to the Lord for all that has been given to us in the faith, and ask Him to show us and help us share what we can offer to be a part of His presence in this world, as we work to follow in the example of those original disciples. Seven days to focus on practicing virtue out in the world. And I suggest we pick one virtue we would like to grow. Seven days to pray not just for those near and dear, but for those who are not so close to us. Seven days to speak of the good and try to leave behind complaining and negative talk. Seven days to work on bringing Christ more fully into this world as we allow Him to work through us. If we can keep up this sustained effort for seven days, I know that when we come back together again next Sunday, on the Feast of All Saints, we will have moved even closer to the great reward which is promised to those who are faithful, and we will have grown closer to Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Let us be open to a week of great grace.