Here is the text of the homily I prepared and shared with the community of faith that gathered to pray together this weekend, a reflection on the gifts of the Spirit that were conferred upon the Apostles on the first evening of Pentecost - gifts that have been entrusted to all of Christ's disciples ever since that day.
As the Father has sent me
Yesterday morning, children from all the parishes in the North Bay area were present at the Pro-Cathedral to take part in the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. A few weeks ago, when they began their preparation for this Sacrament, the students were asked to reflect on why it was that this Sacrament was important to them. Some of them said: I want to learn more about my faith, others said: I want to confirm the choice that was made for me by my parents, and others simply said: I want to be a committed Christian.
These wishes and hopes were also the wishes and hopes of the disciples as they gathered on the day Jesus had risen from the dead. It was a Sunday night, and the doors of the house where they had met were locked for fear of the Jews. Like our Confirmation candidates, they were worried about the future, about what the future would bring, and in the midst of their worry, Jesus appeared among them and said to them: Peace be with you. With these words, Jesus confided to the disciples a gift that no one else had ever given, a gift that even now, only he can give. Many centuries later, there are so many parts of our world that are in desperate need of peace. This afternoon, the Presidents of Israel and Palestine will be in Rome to meet with the Holy Father and with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. There they will pray for peace, especially in those lands that have known so much discord for far too long. Peace be with you, Jesus said to his disciples. How is he calling each one of us to be an instrument of peace today? Is there someone with whom we need to make peace? Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us to be artisans of peace.
The Book of the Acts of the Apostles tells us that when the day of Pentecost had come, … there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, … divided tongues, as of fire appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them. Anyone who has seen or experienced a fire knows that it has the power to destroy everything in its path, burning away the past even as it prepares the way for the future. The fire that the Spirit brings also has the power to burn away the parts of our history that have been unproductive, and to prepare the way for that which is yet to come. Those who receive the gift of the Spirit at Confirmation are also entrusted with a series of gifts. Each one of the Spirit’s gifts is meant to help us, to strengthen us in our faith and to help us to live as courageous witnesses. In answer to the students’ hopes and dreams, the Spirit’s gifts help us to learn about our faith, and they help us also to be committed to our faith. How does this happen?
Saint Paul explained to the community at Corinth that there are varieties of gifts, but all these gifts are given by the same Spirit. On the day of Confirmation, the Spirit gives us the gift of Wisdom: the grace to be able to see everything with the eyes of God. The Spirit also gives us the gift of Understanding: the grace to seek out the depths of God’s thoughts and his plan for salvation; the gift of Counsel or Right Judgement: through which God illuminates our hearts and helps us to understand the right words to speak, the right actions to take and the right path to follow; and the gift of Fortitude or Courage: which awakens us from our uncertainty, our fear and our slumber, and allows us to put the Word of God into practice in an authentic and joyous way. There is also the gift of Knowledge: a special grace which allows us to comprehend the greatness and the love of God, and the depth of his relationship with each one of us; Piety or Reverence: a depth of our relationship with God that gives meaning to our lives and keeps us balanced, in communion with God, even in the most difficult moments of our lives; and Wonder and Awe in God’s presence.
Ever since the day when these gifts were entrusted to the apostles in the Upper Room, they have continually been given to the disciples throughout the centuries that have come and gone. Even today, the newest recipients of the Spirit’s gifts can find strength in these divine gifts which will accompany them throughout their lives, helping them to be the best of disciples, committed to their faith, and courageous witnesses of Christ’s love in the world.
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