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Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion

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Authors Anne Marie O'Kelley

funerals sacrament-based holidays holy days special occasions

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Exploring the word

24 May 2015 - Solemnity of Pentecost, Cycle B

Weather reports are notoriously unreliable. When it comes to the feast of Pentecost, however, we know just what to expect. A strong driving wind and an excellent probability of fire! At least, that’s what happened on the original Pentecost. But what might we expect this year, in 2015? A lot of parishes to which I’ve belonged over a lifetime have encouraged their parishioners to wear red in order to participate in the liturgical spirit of the feast. So I wear red. But what I’d rather see in the bulletin is a reminder to dress warmly, and in non-flammable attire. Anticipate headwinds, and be prepared to take to the streets with a Rosetta-Stone skill set. We don’t read this in the bulletin, because we don’t expect any such event to occur. The church’s Pentecost is over and done with. Wherever the Holy Spirit might be blowing, it won’t be on the corner of Main and Matilda (my parish address) this year. Those of us old enough to recall the 1960s may remember what happened at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University in 1967. Some Catholic professors and their students prayed for baptism in the Holy Spirit—and got it. Prophecy, faith healing, and tongue-speaking were suddenly no longer Bible-era-specific events in Catholic circles but could be found in the basement of most college Newman Centers. The Vatican has been affirming of the movement: Pope Paul VI and John Paul II were quite optimistic, and Pope Benedict XVI more cautiously so. Today some 160 million Catholics participate in the Charismatic Renewal in 230 countries. Considering that the Vatican counts the church population at close to 1.23 billion, maybe that makes Renewal adherents a fringe group. But a good-sized fringe. Still we might wonder—as Saint Paul wondered, so we’re in good company—if that kind of Pentecostal experience is what it means, or all that it means, to live in the Spirit. Paul got a little exasperated with folks who used tongue-speaking as the demarcation point of authentic Christian experience. He was likewise insistent that prophecy was merely one of many important offices within the church. He included administration as an equally valuable office, which should make parish secretaries everywhere rejoice. He also lumped together healing and “mighty deeds” with more pedestrian-sounding gifts like teaching—which brings cheer to catechists. Paul really breaks open what it means to “drink of the one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:13) when he presents “the more excellent way”—that is, love (12:31ff). If Pentecost has a fire, it’s the passion of love that ignited people like Paul to cast their futures on the mission of the church altogether. I don’t want to put a literal damper on the Charismatic spirit in the church. But if our assemblies caught fire with burning love this Pentecost, we’d want for nothing more. Related scripture links God’s breath creates the world: Gen. 1:2, 2:7 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me: Isa. 61:1-3; Luke 4:18-19 I will place a new spirit within them: Ezek. 11:19-20 Gifts and fruits: Isa. 11:2-3; Gal. 5:22-23

Authors Alice Camille

Pentecost Holy Spirit

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In other words

24 May 2015 - Solemnity of Pentecost, Cycle B

Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side. The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?” (from John 20). Taken from The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition by Eugene Peterson (ACTA Publications, 2014 ); actapublications.com; 800-397-2282.

Holy Spirit

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Homily stories

24 May 2015 - Solemnity of Pentecost, Cycle B

What do these have in common: wind, water, fire, tongues, and a dove? They are all biblical metaphors for the Spirit of God—and they all fail to capture the fullness of that divine Person. Yet paradoxically, the Spirit who so eludes our definition is closest to us, is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise “I am with you until the end.” The American songbook refers to such nearness in human relationships in this tune: “It’s not the pale moon that excites me / That thrills and delights me / Oh no, it’s just the nearness of you.” Just capitalize the Y in you. The celebrated Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner declares that the Holy Spirit is the “nearness of God.” Profound. Simple. But how difficult it is to remain aware of that nearness. We’re aware of the busy, the loud, the fast in our world, but trying to be always aware of the silent, constant, life-giving nearness is like trying to be always aware of your own breathing. For most of us, it’s only in moments such as when your hot shower suddenly turns icy cold and leaves you gasping that you realize how much you need and desperately want that next breath. Without that breath, we die. This is more than metaphor: It is reality. “We must will to believe in such a nearness–in the Holy Spirit,” says Rahner, and this is what we celebrate today: the nearness of Christ, the nearness of God, the breath that will never be taken away, that is keeping you alive in this very instant so that you may whisper, “Thank you.”

Authors Father Larry Janowski O.F.M.

Holy Spirit

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Homily themes

24 May 2015 - Solemnity of Pentecost, Cycle B

We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God. While the “tongues of fire” have inspired numerous works art, some good, some not so good, behind the visual effects is the blueprint for the early church, which the other readings in addition to Acts carry forward. The Spirit literally bursts forth from the disciples in a storm of speech the whole world could understand, with a multitude of gifts and a spirit of forgiveness that overcomes all obstacles, all for the single purpose of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. Jesus always kept his promises, both the one to send his Spirit and the one to send his disciples out to testify to him. The Spirit would guide them and those they would bring to faith to live in the Spirit and do the works of the Spirit, and to a fuller understanding of Jesus the revealer of God.

Pentecost Holy Spirit

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The inner word

08 Jun 2014 - Solemnity of Pentecost, Cycle A

Confused because they understood? In the gospel the large crowd understands each other despite their different origins. Have you traveled to an unfamiliar land and experienced the hospitality of others? The Holy Spirit is your guide through this life, received in Baptism. You are renewed with vibrant life, even with the unfamiliar, even when confused. Peace be with you.

Holy Spirit hospitality

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In other words

08 Jun 2014 - Solemnity of Pentecost, Cycle A

Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side. The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?” (from John 20). From New Message 4 Next Week (actapublications.com/newmessage4nextweek) based on The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition by Eugene Peterson (ACTA Publications, 2014).

Miracle Pentecost Holy Spirit

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The inner word

25 May 2014 - Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

Receive the Holy Spirit! Jesus did not abandon you but empowered you to heal and be healed. You are loved, you are in Christ and Christ is in you, and Jesus is in God the Father. What is the most connected relationship in your life? Do you hurt when they are hurting? Do you feel joy when their suffering is relieved? Sing praise rejoicing the relationship God has with God’s people. The Holy Spirit is with you!

Healing Connection Holy Spirit

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Sign & sacrament

25 May 2014 - Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

“The gift and presence of the Holy Spirit is the most magnificent and wonderful thing that can happen to us, the human community, all living things, and this earth,” wrote German theologian Jürgen Moltmann. The disciples didn’t see it that way at first. They were filled with grief when Jesus told them he would soon be departing from them. They did not understand the gift they were about to receive in the Holy Spirit, the Advocate that Jesus promised to send upon his departure. An advocate “pleads the cause of another,” “supports or promotes the interests of another.” When the going gets tough, it is nice to know we have one at our side. We have Jesus to thank for the Advocate—let’s do so today. For more “Sign & sacrament” material, search the Prepare the Word database by today’s scripture reading, a particular theme, or a special occasion.

Holy Spirit

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Homily themes

25 May 2014 - Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

"Come and see the works of God”—like those Acts describes. But don’t only see: Receive—the Holy Spirit, the Advocate and his truth. And don’t only hear the truth but share it. Declare it, “always . . . ready to give an explanation . . . for a reason for your hope.” Finally, don’t forget to act on the word of God you have received from Teacher: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Commandments Holy Spirit

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