Pentecost
(Seeing the Presence of Jesus in the Everyday)
When we last left the disciples and apostles, last week – they were staring up
into the sky. I’m sure that they were thinking – even if they weren’t saying it.
“Now what?”
Well, here’s what. Jesus isn’t really gone!
When Jesus left this earth – He and the Father sent the Holy Spirit – the Sanctifier,
the one who shows us the presence of God in our every day – to be with us
forever!
We feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in different ways.
Go outside
Look up at a starlit night sky – realize that some of that light that you are
seeing left those stars 200 years ago! But you are seeing it tonight.
Watch a sunset. Or a sunrise if you are an early riser!
Marvel at the green life all around us – the rain fell and our lawns greened
up in a day! Tulips – dormant all winter– shot up in a day.
What attracts us to sunsets – they fill that God-shaped hole in our soul –
something that only God can fill.
Hold a baby
Hey – I really get this one! My grandson is just a little over three months
old.
Every morning I get my baby Antonio fix – a few minutes of video chat –
mostly watching him smile!
And when I held him and he fell asleep in my arms – I know that God is real
and he loves us!
Enjoy the arts
Do you have a favorite song? I do. And when I discover a new one, I binge
listen to it until I know all the lyrics by heart.
A favorite book, or movie, or work of art – it lands somewhere deep inside
of us. It soothes an ache for something that is true, and beautiful and right –
something of God.
Create something
It does not matter what it is – maybe it is music we make, or something we
bake, something we build, something we write, even a well cut lawn or a
folded pile of clean clothes – we step back and look at our work – and we
say – that is good! And evening comes and morning follows – a good day!
We are co-creators with God – and some of us are fortunate enough to co-
create another human life with God – and we’re back to holding that baby.
Serve
We forget about ourselves for a while and we do something for someone
else – and God is there!
My Dad taught me that!
Pray
And when we recognize God’s presence in one of these ordinary, yet
extraordinary things – we can thank the Holy Spirit – because that’s what the
Spirit does!
Recognizing God’s presence and dwelling there with Him – hanging out
with God, that is prayer.
Spend time in Church
And sometimes we do that here – in this sacred place, this Spirit-filled place.
We bring babies and children over here and watch the heavens open and the
Holy Spirit pour down that grace of God into the child and into the hearts of
those who love that little one.
Or over here, where we witness a man and a woman commit themselves to
each other and to God, publicly and permanently for all to see, forever!
And here on this altar – where the Holy Spirit transforms simple bread and
wine into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here where we receive that gift of the Eucharist and let it transform us into
his Body – the Church – his disciples of the 21 st century.
Do any of these things with other people, and the presence of the Holy Spirit is
amplified – “…for wherever two or three and gathered in my name, I am there”.
An others see this. They see the joy that we have and that we share with each
other, and they say, “I want some of that!”
And that is when our life of living intentionally, aware of the presence of the Holy
Spirit, becomes a witness to others.
We don’t have to beat people over the head with the Bible, we only have to
Share the joy, live the love, feel the peace that comes from recognizing the
presence of the Holy Spirit.
Demonstrate patience, kindness and generosity in our actions
Be gentle, faithful and exercise self-control.
This is how we change our hearts.
This is how we change our families, our neighborhoods, the and near north side of
Appleton.
Collectively, this is how we change the culture!
We recognize the presence of the Spirit in our everyday. We celebrate it! And we
share it!
So: Go outside.
Hold a baby.
Enjoy the arts.
Create something.
Serve someone.
Pray.
Spend some time in Church
And share all of this with others.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of
your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And you shall renew the face of the earth.