Following Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven, His disciples prayerfully waited with Mary, the Blessed Mother, for the coming of the Holy Spirit because Christ promised He would not leave them as orphans. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples emerged, renewed and ready to carry on Christ’s mission. How do we feel as we begin to emerge from our shelters during this coronavirus pandemic?
Do we feel abandoned or has our faith in Our Lord strengthened? Perhaps our beliefs have not changed one way or the other. However, there is one certainty; our emergence comes as we approach the day of Pentecost—the promised coming of the Holy Spirit.
Consider the belief that the coming of Pentecost Sunday is not a coincidence as we work to reopen our lives. God gives us the Holy Spirit as our Advocate to be with us always. There is no better way to start again than to be united with the Spirit of Our Lord as we face life’s uncertainties and challenges exacerbated by the coronavirus.
The Love of God
While many (63% according to one survey) think that God is sending a message through this pandemic, the message of Pentecost is clear. “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” [Romans 5:5]. As shown by the life of Christ, God’s love is ours for the receiving and for the sharing by way of the Holy Spirit.
“To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” [1 Cor 12:7]. The gifts the Spirit provides are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear—wonder—of the Lord. So long as we are receptive and adhere to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the gifts we are given can be shared through our daily living for everyone’s benefit.
The working of the Holy Spirit comes to fruition through our words and actions. The fruits of charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity provide what we all need, especially now. Faced with our limited human resources, the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit replenish our heart and soul with the greatness of God’s love.
Moving Forward
While we have much to do to repair our lives, with the power of Holy Spirit our reparations can extend beyond meeting our own needs. In other words, with the Lord’s promise comes our purpose. Allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, we can be conduits—like Mary and the first disciples—for God to work within our world. We too can emerge renewed and ready to carry on with the promise that God’s love will prevail.
The tenderness and care we give to our families, the integrity and dignity we put into our jobs and service to others, the patience and kindness we share with everyone in our path, the charity and compassion we provide to those who are struggling are among the countless ways in life we can bring God’s love to one another. Doing so, we experience a transformation as children of God, as brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ with Mary as our Mother, in unity with the Holy Spirit. Truly, Our Lord does not leave us as orphans. Amen!
