Pentecost literally means 50th. It is a feast celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover feast by the Jews and a feast celebrated on the 50th day after the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus by Christians.
What did really happen on the day of Pentecost:
- the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary as tongues of fire;
- the frightened apostles were transformed into fiery preachers and evangelizers and were given the gift of tongues by a special anointing of the Holy Spirit;
- the listeners experienced a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit through the apostles’ gift of tongues: they heard Peter speaking in their native language;
- the early Christians became powerful witnesses and brave martyrs for their Faith in Jesus;
This is such an important feast for us believers. We need to permit the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives:
- by constantly remembering His holy presence and behaving well;
- by praying for His daily anointing so that we may fight against our temptations and control our evil tendencies, evil habits and addictions;
- by asking His daily assistance to pray, listening to God through meditative Bible reading, and talking to Him by personal, family and liturgical prayers; and
- by asking for the help of the Holy Spirit to do good for others and to be reconciled with God and others every day.
With the Pentecost celebration, we finish the Easter season and move to the ordinary season. So, tomorrow you will see more green than white colors in the church. Make this ordinary season, extraordinary. Let Jesus control Your life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Come Holy Spirit
Make our ears to hear
Make our eyes to see
Make our mouths to speak
Make our hearts to seek
Make our hands to reach out
And touch the world with your love. AMEN.
P.S.
It’s good to be back. I had a wonderful time in Poland with both my religious brothers and my family. But I have to say, it was too short, but am glad that I had an opportunity to visit those whom I love. But I also missed you. Since July 2020 St. Genevieve – St. Maurice parish became my home and you became my brothers and sisters. For your prayers for me, my family and my religious order, and for your kind words, while in Poland, I am greatly thankful. Maybe someday I will have a chance to share with you my Polish experience. My vacation time wouldn’t have been as beautiful as it was, if not for our Parish Staff. Their love, dedication, and hard work for our parish is truly visible and appreciated. I had full confidence when leaving to Poland that they would take care of absolutely everything, and they did! It was truly team work and for that I am very grateful. May God bless us all as we continue our faith journey together.
- Please keep in your prayers our Candidates for Confirmation (Tuesday 6/7 at 7 pm) and our First Communion children (Sunday 6/12 at 11 am) and their families, as they have been getting ready for their sacramental encounter with Jesus. May Jesus always be the center of their lives.
- St. John XXIII parish in Redford announced that starting Sunday 6/5 they will have 5 pm Mass on every Sunday.
I wish you happy and holy ordinary season. May the life of Jesus be visible through the fruits of the Holy Spirit in your lives. Be the witness Jesus!!!
Fr. Tom