Monday, May 28, 2007

Sermon for Pentecost Sunday 27.5.07

Pentecost Sunday 27.5.07

They each heard the apostles speaking in their own language! - one of the miracles associated with Pentecost.

It was truly an example of how far God will go to reach the human race. He adapts His communication so that each one has a chance to know Him and to respond.

This miracle of languages was also a foreshadowing of the Church’s role in occupying every nation and reaching all the peoples of the world.

If we pour water into different shaped containers the water will flow into whatever shape is there. The Holy Spirit will likewise adapt His coming to the one receiving Him.

He will make allowances for the particular needs and dispositions of that person – taking into account the degree of willingness the person has to receive Him, and the plans God has for the person.

The Holy Spirit will know all these things and will ‘flow’ accordingly.

If we are more willing to receive Him we will receive more. If He calls us to higher things or more difficult things, we will receive more help accordingly.

Today, especially, is a time for us to ask Him to come. We ask Him to come to each of us, individually, and to the whole Church.

We do not know what exactly God is going to ask of each of us as individuals.

Take the apostles as an example. They were just ordinary men, several of them fishermen.

They would have had no idea they would end up world famous for centuries to come! How could a Galilean fisherman become so important?

Yet it happened, simply because they allowed God to use them according to His plans.

In the Church we are encouraged to be humble. Unlike say the political world, or the business world where we are encouraged to sell ourselves. If I apply for a job, for instance, I should go into the interview with reasons why I am the best person, and not those other applicants.

In the Church, however, we are not supposed to put ourselves forward for high office. A priest, for instance, should not be saying: Vote for me to be bishop, or Pope!

We are supposed to be aware of our limitations and lack of talent.

If we should not put ourselves forward, however, we should let God put us forward if He so desires.

So the apostles did well to respond to Our Lord’s call to follow Him.

Various saints did not want to be made bishop or pope, or head of the order, but humbly obeyed when it was clear this was God’s will.

They let God put them forward. They were willing to let Him decide the course of their lives, and trusted that He would provide the necessary graces.

This is Pentecost in practice, in everyday life.

We are aware of our own weakness, our own limitations. But we do not apply those limitations to God.

If He wants us for some purpose, to do some work for Him, then let it be done. (Remember someone else who said that?)

And then, apart from the jobs we have to do, there is just the matter of how good we can become.

Pope or postman, bishop or bartender, we all have an obligation to be as good as we can be – in terms of faith, hope, charity, and the various gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Here also we don’t know. Just how good can I be? I may think I have reached about as holy as I’m ever going to get, but how do I know that? Chances are, if I say that, that I am thinking only from a worldly wisdom. I do not know what miracles of grace God might work in me. I should leave room for those miracles and never cease expecting or striving to improve as I cooperate with His grace.

Pulling out a vice here, building up a virtue there. Pulling up weeds; planting flowers.

Come Holy Spirit, and make Pentecost happen in each of us, in the Church, and in our time.