We are Many, We are One

One my favorite bits from the Bible is in this morning's readings:

"...We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

"Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome,

"both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.' "
(Acts 2:9-11)

That was about two thousand years ago.

Some things have changed.

Phrygia's land became part of Rome's holdings about a century after the "tongues as of fire" appeared.

Since then it's been in the Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman Empires. These days, it's part of Turkey: and someone else will probably be running it two millennia from now.

Rome is still a major city, but the last Roman Emperor died more than a dozen centuries back. My ancestors come from lands beyond the old Roman frontier.

I speak English, a West Germanic language that wouldn't settle into something like its current form until around Shakespeare's day.

Some things haven't changed, and won't.

I've talked about natural law, ethical principles built into the universe, before. It doesn't change. Positive law, rules we make to help us live in comparative harmony, can and sometimes must change: and that's another topic. (August 31, 2014; August 29, 2014)

Something else that won't change is the best news humanity's ever had: God loves us, and wants to adopt us. (John 3:17; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 52, 1825)

What we do about that news is up to each of us. In my case, I decided that becoming a Catholic made sense.

Love and Blunders

The Shavout recalled in Acts 2 was our 'grand opening' — when the Holy Spirit came, making our Lord's message available to anyone who would listen.¹ (Catechism, 731-732, 767)

Today, Catholics live on every continent except Antarctica. We speak Albanian, Brazilian, Japanese, Lebanese, and many other languages.

We worship in Kobe, Japan; Hannover, Germany; Westfield, Indiana; and Kunming, China.

We have lived under emperors, kings, chairmen, and presidents. Sometimes our native leaders let us worship in peace, sometimes they don't, and occasionally they try to take our Lord's place.

We are "one in Christ Jesus," united by the sacraments our Lord gave us: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. We celebrate those sacraments in many ways, reflecting our many cultures. (Catechism, 1200-1206, 1210)

That upsets folks who imagine that the universal, καθολικός, church should — for all people, in every millennium — look and act just like folks did in their home parish, a few decades back.

Some of us, as centuries rolled by, have acted as if making "disciples of all nations" meant forcing one culture or political system down everyone's throat. That's a huge mistake. We're still cleaning up the mess left by the Verdun massacre, and that's yet another topic. (May 18, 2014)

There is no one 'correct' culture or political system. (Catechism, 24, 814, 1901, 1957)

There are, however, a few basic principles we should all observe: Love God, love our neighbors, see everyone as our neighbor, and treat others as we'd like to be treated. (Matthew 5:43-44, 7:12, 22:36-40, Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31 10:25-27, 29-37; Catechism, 1789)

As long as we keep loving God and our neighbors, and acting as if everybody's our neighbor, we'll confuse and astound² — and upset folks who like the status quo. And that's yet again another topic.

Posts about:

• "Talents, and the Best News Ever"
  (November 16, 2014)
  Particularly
  • Doing Something
  • "Faith Without Works is Dead"
  • Evangelization and Consequences
• "Morality isn't Just About 'Morality' "
  (September 7, 2014)
  Particularly
  • New Rules, Unchanging Principles, and Twitter
  • Diversity, Dance, and a Distant Dream
• "Joining the Universal Banquet"
  (August 3, 2014)
  Particularly
  • Mass-Produced Art: Beauty and Holy Cards
  • Bringing a Message of Hope and Love
• "God's Field Kits: Pentecost Plus Two Millennia and Counting"
  (June 8, 2014)
• "Guide, Friend, Counselor, Comforter: the Holy Spirit"
  Guest post (May 25, 2014)

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¹ Definitions:

"HOLY SPIRIT: The third divine Person of the Blessed Trinity, the personal love of Father and Son for each other. Also called the Paraclete (Advocate) and Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the divine plan for our salvation (685; cf. 152, 243)."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, Glossary, H)

"PENTECOST: The 'fiftieth' day at the end of the seven weeks following Passover (Easter in the Christian dispensation). At the first Pentecost after the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was manifested, given and communicated as a divine Person to the Church, fulfilling the paschal mystery of Christ according to his promise (726, 731; cf. 1287). Annually the Church celebrates the memory of the Pentecost event as the beginning of the new 'age of the Church,' when Christ lives and acts in and with his Church (1076)."
(Catechism, Glossary, P)

² "...the Church astounds and confuses...."

"...Pentecost is the event that signals the birth of the Church and her public manifestation; and two features strike us: the Church astounds and confuses...."
Regina Caeli," Pope Francis, Solemnity of Pentecost (June 8, 2014)

More:

• "Regina Caeli"
  Pope Francis, Solemnity of Pentecost (June 8, 2014)
  (From vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2014/documents/papa-francesco_regina-coeli_20140608.html (May 22, 2015))
• "Pentecost Vigil with the Ecclesial Movements"
  Pope Francis (May 18, 2013)
  (From vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2013/may/documents/papa-francesco_20130518_veglia-pentecoste.html (May 22, 2015))
• "Ecclesial Movements as Agents of a New Evangelization"
  H. Richard McCord, Catechetical Sunday, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (September 16, 2012)
• "Christifideles Laici"
  Pope St. John Paul II (December 30, 1988)

God's Field Kits: Pentecost Plus Two Millennia and Counting

Partly because of the visual drama, this is one of my favorite scenes from the Bible:

"¹ When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.

"And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, ² and it filled the entire house in which they were.

"Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, ³ which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

"And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, ⁴ as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim."
(Acts 2:1-4)

It's also part of what we read during Mass this morning: Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23.

Trekking to God's Kingdom

(From Thomas Cole, used w/o permission.)

If "a noise like a strong driving wind" and "tongues as of fire" showed up at the corner of Ash Street and South 9th, here in Sauk Centre, Minnesota: I'd be flabbergasted. That sort of high-profile display doesn't happen very often: anywhere.

I've received the gift of the Holy Spirit, though, at baptism. That's when I became a "temple of the Holy Spirit," entered the life of the Church, and started on my trek to God's kingdom. I was a baby at the time, so everything I've learned about my faith came later. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 782, 1213-1284)

The Holy Spirit makes folks who are baptized "a spiritual house and a holy priesthood." (Hebrews 5:1-5; Revelation 1:6; Catechism, 784)

That makes it sound like we're all supposed to be clergy. That's not the way it works, so I'd better back up a bit.

One Body, Many Members

(From the Holy See, used w/o permission.)
(The Apostles Creed and The Nicene Creed, in Chinese.)

Catholics are united by common beliefs: like the Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed. But our goal isn't being cookie-cutter Christians, trying to fit a single mold.

Some of us get spectacular gifts, charisms, like speaking in tongues. Most of us don't, and that's okay. 1 Corinthians 14:23 is pretty clear about what could happen if an entire congregation was into speaking in tongues.

"Now the body is not a single part, but many.

"If a foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,' it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.

"Or if an ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,' it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.

"If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?"
(1 Corinthians 12:14-17)

Charisms aren't for the benefit of folks who have them: they're gifts that are meant to help "the Body of Christ, the Church:" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2003)

"...Whatever their character - sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues - charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.⁵⁴"
(Catechism, 2003)

God issues an extensive array of field kits, including prophecy, teaching, healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28)

Administration isn't as glamorous as speaking in tongues or prophecy: but we need administrators, too. (December 9, 2012)

I take speaking in tongues seriously, and may have heard someone 'speaking in tongues.' Then again, maybe the chap simply had a good memory and active imagination. The sounds he made were an awful lot like a paraphrase of the Aramaic quoted in Matthew 27:46: which made no sense in context.

Anyway, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit I'm pretty sure I don't have is tongues. I've read the first half of 1 Corinthians 12:31, "strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts...." but I've read the rest of the book, too.

Instead of griping about what I wasn't issued, I figure a better use of my time is using the equipment I've got. And that's another topic. (September 1, 2013; December 9, 2012; November 23, 2011)

Related posts:

• "Guide, Friend, Counselor, Comforter: the Holy Spirit"
  (May 25, 2014)
• "A Billion Ways to be Catholic, and the Spider-Man Principle"
  (December 9, 2012)
  Particularly
  • Many Parts, One Body
  • High-Profile isn't Everything
• "The Important Idea, Charisms, and Working With What I've Got"
  (June 24, 2012)
  Particularly
  • Being Different
• "Talents, 'the Outer Darkness,' and Interest-Bearing Bank Accounts"
  (November 23, 2011)
  Particularly
  • "God-Given Talents and Mission," and Responsibility
  • Faith and Works
• "Speaking in Tongues and Getting a Grip"
  (June 1, 2011)

Guide, Friend, Counselor, Comforter: the Holy Spirit

Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter 2014:

• Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
• 1 Peter 3:15-18
• John 14:15-21

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Sixth Sunday of Easter 2014

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
May 25, 2014

In an anonymous e-mail, we are told a story we need to hear on this Memorial Day weekend. It's about an old man and his wife sitting in the parking lot of a supermarket. The hood is up on their car. Evidently they were having engine problems.

A young man in his early 20s with a grocery bag in his arms walks in the direction of the older couple. The older gentleman emerges from his car and takes a few steps in the young man's direction. He points to the open hood and asks the young man for assistance. The young man puts his grocery bag into his expensive SUV, turns back to the old man and yelled at him: "you shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age." And then with a wave of his hand, he gets into his car and speeds out of the parking lot. The old gentleman pulls out his handkerchief, mops his brow and goes back to his car. Again he looks at the engine. He then goes to his wife and appears to reassure her that everything will be okay.

A stranger approaches the old man. "Looks like you're having a problem," he says. The old man smiles sheepishly, and quietly nods his head. The stranger looks under the hood of the car, but he has no more expertise with engines than the old man.

He assures the elderly gentleman he will return and heads to a nearby service station. He explains the situation to a mechanic saying he will pay him if he would help the elderly couple with their car.

Returning with a mechanic, the stranger gets into a conversation with the old gentleman. The stranger is wearing a ring signifying that he had been a Marine. Coincidentally, so had the old man. He confides that he had served in some of the harshest battles in our nation's history, including Guadalcanal in Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps after the war.

After the car was repaired and running, the old gentleman handed a card to the stranger and shook hands and parted. Little while later the stranger happened to look at card and the name of the old gentleman was on the card in gold leaf and under his name was written: Congressional medal of honor Society. It was only then that the former Marine realized that he had come to the aid of one of America's heroes.

This, just a reminder that this Memorial Day weekend there are men and women who have served their country, and received very little in return. It is only right we recognize their sacrifice and honor their memory this holiday weekend. And with much sadness we hear of the scandal at the VA Hospitals across our country.

Our gospel for today is of a loving relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and how this relationship extends to all of humanity with a simple admonition: "if you love me, and keep my commands, I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. With a further promise: I will not leave you as orphans; for I will come to you before long.

Another Story:

A man who underwent open-heart surgery told his friend about his experience. He said, "the day before surgery a nurse came into my room to visit she took hold of my hand and told me to feel it and to hold it."

"Now, she said, "during the surgery tomorrow you will be disconnected from your heart and you will be kept alive only by virtue of certain machines. When your heart is finally restored and the operation is over and you are recovering, you will eventually awaken and a very special room. You will be immobile for as long as six hours. You may be unable to move, or speak, or even to open your eyes, but you will be perfectly conscious. You will hear and you will know everything that is going on around you. During those six hours I will be at your side and I will hold your hand, exactly as I'm doing now. I will stay with you until you are fully recovered. Although you may feel absolutely helpless, when you feel my hand, you will know that I will not leave you."

It happened exactly as the nurse told me, the man continued. "I awoke and could do nothing. But I could feel the nurse's hand in my hand for hours and that made all the difference in the world.

Similarly this happen to me some months ago when getting up in the morning, attempting to get dressed I knew I was in trouble. I know I shouldn't use names, but in this case I feel it necessary. I called Connie and asked her to call Dr. Jim from next door and Maria Minette that I needed their help. In a very short time they came to my aid and stayed with me all morning. To say that I was and am grateful is an understatement, but much like the old man whose hand was being held by a nurse I felt their comfort, their concern and their love.

It does make a difference when someone comes along side us when we are in need. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. In some instances the Holy Spirit comes with power. At other times the Holy Spirit comes as a guide. But there are times when we need a friend, counselor, comforter. Then the Holy Spirit served in these capacities as well. But why did Jesus say, "I will give you another advocate."

The writer of John wants us to understand that the same Spirit that was in Christ is a Spirit that will be with us in our time of need. John is very clear that this is why Christ departed from this world so that his Spirit could be available to every person in this world who opens himself or herself to him. This is the importance of the Trinity. The same Spirit that created this world became flesh and Jesus Christ returns on the day of Pentecost to make available to every believer, with guidance, comfort, and empowerment, also for clarity of mission and for strength as we seek to be Christ's people. All this is wrapped up in that short phrase, "and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever."

You all be Good, Be holy and Preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words!

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'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

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More reflections:

• "Reflections from Sauk Centre's Our Lady of Angels Church"

Related posts:

• "Memorial Day: War; Celebrating; Remembering; and Building a Better World"
  (May 26, 2014)
• "Called to Serve the Lord"
  (March 30, 2014)
• "Trinity Sunday: Our God is a Sharing God"
  (May 26, 2013)
• "Marching Through Time"
  (April 1, 2012)
• "Pentecost Sunday, 2009: A Reflection"
  (May 31, 2009)

Pentecost Sunday, 2009: A Reflection

Readings for May 31, 2009, Pentecost Sunday:

• Acts 2:1-11-15, 17-19
• 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Gal 5:16-25
• Jn 20:19-23 or John 15:26-27; 16:12-15

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Pentecost 2009

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
May 31, 2009

I found it interesting as to how this feast came about and it's meaning so I looked it up in Fr. John Hardens Catholic Dictionary. "Feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. It takes its name from the fact that it comes about fifty days after Easter. The name was originally given to the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which fell on the fiftieth day after Passover, when the first fruits of the corn harvest were offered to the Lord. And later on the giving of the law to Moses was celebrated. In the early Church, Pentecost meant the whole period from Easter to Pentecost Sunday, during which no fasting was allowed, prayer was only made standing, and Alleluia was sung more often."

I continue: for the most part from a reflection by Fr. Raniero the preacher to the papal household. For what he says is: that when the Holy Spirit takes possession of a heart, a change comes about. If before there was a "secret rancor or hatred against God" in the depths of a persons heart, now when the Holy Spirit comes from God and attests that God is truly favorable and benign. In other words a Loving God and not an enemy. Ones eyes are opened to all that God has made capable of doing for each of us and to the fact that He did not spare His only Son for us.

The Spirit puts "Gods love" into man's heart. In this way God makes us over into a new persons who Loves God and who willingly does what God asks. God, in fact, no longer limits Himself to telling man what he should do or not do, but man does it with God and in God. The new law, the law of the Spirit, is much more then an indication of ones will; it is an action, a living and active principle. The new law is a new life. That is why it is more often called grace rather than law: "You are not under the law but under Gods Grace".

In a strict sense, then, the new law or the law of the Spirit is not that which Jesus proclaimed on the mount of Beatitudes, but that which He engraved in man's heart at Pentecost. The evangelical precepts are certainly higher and more perfect than the Mosaic laws were; yet, on their own, they too would have been ineffective. If it had sufficed to proclaim the new will of God through the Gospel, we would be unable to explain why Jesus died and why the Holy Spirit came. But the apostles themselves showed that it was not enough. They heard everything, for example, that we should turn the other cheek to the those that strike us, and yet at the moment of the Passion they were not strong enough to carry out anything of what Jesus had commanded. If Jesus had limited Himself to proclaiming the new command saying; "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another", it would have remained what it was before, just an old, written law. It was at Pentecost when He poured His love into the hearts of His disciples by means of the Spirit that it became, by right, a new law, the law of the Spirit that gives life.

This new law, this new way of life, is a pure gift from God, a free gift of Grace.

So once again as we reenter Ordinary time we are called to live the life of Grace. Scripture reminds us that we are to be a peculiar people. In other words a people set apart to fulfill the will of God in our lives and to manifest this new way of life to the world.

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'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

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More:

• "Reflections from Sauk Centre's Our Lady of the Angels Church"