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Gospel ReadingOn the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
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By Fr. Bob Struzynski, OFM
I get very excited about the Feast of Pentecost. Someone has said that the Spirit is the presence of Jesus when Jesus is absent. That sounds pretty good to me except I would add “the loving, healing, life-giving presence.” I love the message of the Risen Lord as he “breathes” this presence on the first believers – it would be a powerful presence that enables them to break through fear into peace and that would enable them to carry on his mission of reconciliation through forgiveness.
I would like to share briefly on the first part of this message. I experienced the Spirit's power in my life to break through fear into peace in a special way when I decided to leave Bona's in 1978 and join two other brothers to begin St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia. After I made the decision I went for a retreat in Maine and during the retreat became very fearful of following through with my decision to leave the academic life behind and live a simple life with the poor.
One night I had a dream and in the dream I saw myself enclosed within a field by thick heavy walls. Combined with this dream was a certain experience of God through the Scriptures that I was reading at this time. I read the passage about Jesus curing the man who was crippled and was laying by the healing waters of the pool of Siloam. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to walk and the man complained that he could never get to the healing waters in time to be cured, someone always got there ahead of him. I was the imprisoned man who was not able to get up and walk.
But I heard the words of Jesus very strongly “Get up, pick up your mat and walk!” in a very personal way. Jesus was saying to me just get up and walk and I would find I was walking into my new life. I did, and those seemingly thick, impenetrable walls were nothing but an illusion created by my fear. As I went to touch them my hand went right through them. There was nothing to stop me. Jesus led me right through my fear into greater freedom and new life.
This is only one story from one life. I'll bet all of you reading this little sharing on the bible readings for Pentecost could add many many more stories of God's loving, healing, strengthening presence through the gift of the Spirit. In true “Mountain” fashion let us rejoice, give thanks and spread the Good News!
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By Mike Fenn
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you”
I am thrilled to partner up with Bob on this special holy day of Pentecost, as we have common threads related to this day. I, too, was called from St. Bonaventure (as a student) to live at St. Francis Inn. While my work there could only have taken place through the pioneering of Bob and his Brothers, it was a wonderful year of truly walking the spirit in everything I did.
Another connection that Bob has drawn out is my recent dream that has been on my mind for a few weeks now. On March 24, my father passed away in North Carolina after a few years of being in poor health. We had a wonderful funeral, recalling his life dedicated to Christian ministry. However he was to be buried in New York City about a month later. The planning for this second event was difficult as many from our family lives far from there. It was also difficult to go through the grieving process for a second time. Truly my spirit was down, and I was depressed at trying to help in the planning while life continues forward at a fast pace in every other respect.
About a week before the memorial service my father visited me in a dream. He was the giant I remember him being when I was young, wearing one of his three-piece business suits. I ran up and hugged him, asked him if he was back. He said, “No, but I’m OK.”
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Thank you very much for your personal and inspiring reflections. I am glad I was able to take the time to read and re-read your words...
ReplyDeleteI think of one of our Franciscan Sojourner fathers' - St. Francis - and the words he heard from God - Go, Rebuild my Church which is falling into ruin.
God Bless
Kevin (Rochester)
I love Bob's phrase, "the first believers" and Mike's powerful image of hugging his Dad. Thank you both for your reflections.
ReplyDeleteI too once had a dream which I'll share in brief - I dreamt everyone was talking Mexican--I assume that it was in Spanish. I've never studied Spanish and don't speak it. I barely made it thru fourth level French while at Bonas. While this dream did not call me to go in any particular direction, I will always remember it vividly, as many were speaking at once, quite fluidly, like at crowded stadium. It was like tuning in to a radio station I had never heard before.
I so like this Gospel reading where Jesus's first recorded words to the Apostles here are "Peace Be With You." While it says they were filled with joy, I imagine, they were also quite afraid, at first.
For a while now, I've been working on a project that frankly frightens me to move forward. I have been trying to get in touch with a particular business person here in my community. Two Sundays ago, there that business person was sitting right behind me in mass. When we met again the following day, he gave me 90 minutes of his time and has shown much interest in my work.
The sense of peace I now have -- that someone GETS what I'm trying to do -- is heaven sent.
Peace be with all of you,
Mike Camoin
Albany, NY