Pentecost
by William Blake
Unless the eye catch fire,
The God will not be seen.
Unless the ear catch fire
The God will not be heard.
Unless the tongue catch fire
The God will not be named.
Unless the heart catch fire,
The God will not be loved.
Unless the mind catch fire,
The God will not be known.
by Sister Susan Chase, SCL
On June 8, the Feast of Pentecost, the Church celebrates her “birthday.” Before Jesus left his apostles to return to the Father, Jesus promised them that his Ascension did not mean he would abandon them or leave them orphaned. He would send the Advocate – God’s own Spirit – to remain with them and teach them, to empower them as “witnesses . . . to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) At Pentecost, “huddled together in the upper room in fear” of what might happen to them, the disciples received the Holy Spirit, coming as violent wind and flames of fire. As Don Goergen, OP, writes in his book Fire of Love, “The disciples are set on fire.” They are transformed. The Way of Jesus is preached and lived. The Church is born.
In his poem, Pentecost, William Blake, 18th c. British poet expresses the mission of Christ’s disciples to make God seen, heard, named, loved, and known. For us, the question is: “What is it we can do to ‘catch fire’?” It seems that we cannot will ourselves to ignite, to “catch fire.”
Fr. Goergen’s writing on the Holy Spirit reminds us, “The Holy Spirit indwells us. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us…The whole Jesus story is an act of the Holy Spirit, whose work began before Jesus was conceived and continued beyond his raising Jesus from the dead.” (p31)
The Spirit is alive and working in us and in the Church. We saw the Spirit at work in the recent election of Pope Leo XIV! Our work as disciples of Jesus is to learn how to open to the Holy Spirit. As we go forth, may we catch the Spirit’s fire!
This month, we offer the following opportunities to open our hearts, minds, and lives to the Spirit.
Consider joining us at Marilac Center for one of the following events:
Mondays at Marillac
June 2, 9, 23, 30
Renew your Spirit and come spend a Monday morning, afternoon, or the whole day with all the beauty the Marillac campus has to offer. Walk our labyrinth and tree-lined walking paths, sit by our beautiful fountains, attend Mass with the Sisters, or spend time in our library. You can even set up an appointment to meet with one of our Spiritual Directors.
Directed Retreat, 3-nights
June 12-15, * paid event
Registration available at the button; contact srobb@scls.org for payment information.
Directed Retreat, 7-nights
June 12-19, * paid event
Registration available at the button; contact srobb@scls.org for payment information.
