Living Pentecost In Your Parish

It is no secret that our parishes are struggling. The decrease in the numbers of priests and religious is compounded by the fact that those who are sitting in the pews are there with a mentality that the church is suppose to serve them, and that someone else will get the work done. Our church has always had a strong foundation of people who would give up their lives for Jesus  Christ’s message, and that message would be brought across the land, fulfilling the commandment that Jesus had given his first disciples. Notice how I use the word “commandment” and not “request”. I don’t think that Jesus had any doubt when he spoke to the disciples that they may choose NOT to carry on His message. Today we live in a world that is much more concerned with “me” than with “us”. We do not think that we should be doing anything that we “have” to do, rather, we ask ourselves many questions and usually find in those questions an excuse not to do things that would make us uncomfortable. We have to remember that Jesus calls us and promises to “comfort” us, not make us “comfortable”. Jesus has already called us to spread this message through our Baptism, if you were baptized in the Catholic faith, it is now your duty to not only spread his message but to know the message. This is where we have a problem today; many, many young adults do not know their faith. We could spend a lot of time in the area of who is to blame, but if we choose to spend our time there, then we all miss out!

I urge you to take a look at what God is calling you to do. Not to ask in a superficial way, but to really get on your knees and ask and listen to what God is saying today. It is my opinion that it is an exciting time to part of the Catholic Church, the windows and doors are WIDE open to those who want to come in and use their talents and gifts for the good of God’s message. What is that message for you? Without taking the time to listen, you will never know. How do we take the message of Pentecost to our parishes? It is easy, your mission this week, is to have a conversation with your parish priest, how could you use your talents to help glorify God? Glorifying God is why we breathe! Our faith is not an “I” statement, it is a “we” commandment, the Church cannot complete its mission without you, no matter how unworthy, unqualified, unchurched you feel. Jesus did not find his followers in the temple, nor at the local library or school, he found them doing what they do each day, ordinary like you and I. There is no question as to “IF” God is calling you… HE IS! Think of a broken piece of glass, shattered on the floor, each and every piece is needed if the glass will once again be put to use, even the smallest piece. You are needed to put this back together.

As a Director of Religious Ed for my parish, I know that soon, your parish will be looking for volunteers. What will your answer be? Will you be part of the growth of your parish? Or Will you be a part of its death? Make a decision now!

Where Are You Going?

Image by Steve Snodgrass via Flickr

I just love the readings for this coming Sunday! Why? Because to me, they are unexpected. Here we have just celebrated Pentecost, this celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit, we have just celebrated the birthday of the church, and the disciples have been commanded to go and spread the Good News all over the world! What a task to be given, from your Rabbi who has been crucified, risen from the dead, has continued to teach them post crucifixion, has been taken to heaven to be with the Father and just recently, all the disciples were together, all speaking different languages and more than 3000 were converted! Wow, and so I would think that next the scripture is going to have some big revelation of how to go about and convert the rest of the world (did the disciples know how big the world really was?). But instead, we have this kind of short Gospel reading, reminding us of Jesus’ mission in the first place. That He didn’t come to condemn the world, he came so that everyone would truly understand what their purpose was and really understand how much their Father in heaven loves them that He sent his son, to take our sins away from us, so that we would be free to live this promise that God had given, not only to us today, but to our father’s back to the beginning of time.  The first reading tells about Moses climb to Mount Sanai and how he finds God to be merciful and gracious, and Moses hopes that despite people being “stiff necked” that God finds favor and decides to join them on the journey.  The second reading, tells the people to “REJOICE” and to encourage one another, to agree with another and to meet each other with a “holy kiss”.  (Kind of sounds like my mother when she would find me and my siblings in an all out war!) And as you read these passages for this coming Sunday, (Fathers Day, btw) it does make so much sense, because I am sure that once the disciples got moving to spread the “Good News” there were different opinions on how to do it, where to do it, who could be a part of it, etc. and so how fitting that when you start a journey, it is important to take a moment to remember your purpose, what is your mission, where is it that you want to go? And as important, how are you treating those around you as you live out that mission, are you making sure that you take care of those around you, are you encouraging to others, are you meeting people with a holy kiss?  Are  you making sure that this “Good News” is being presented as “good”.  We have to remember that so many times, the Good News is translated more about our actions than our words.  Ask yourself what it means to be “stiff necked” and could this be used to describe you? Do you sometimes get so fixated on something and forget to pay attention to all that is going on around you?

So as we begin this week, let us reflect on our mission. We have been given the gifts, everything we need to make a change in the world, now, where are you going?

Talk to you Wednesday, when we discuss how to bring this message into your local parish.