V2 - 5/11/08 (A)
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Contents: Volume 2: Pentecost 2008
1. -- Lanie LeBlanc OP
2. -- Musings: -- Fr. Michael Kennedy
3. -- (Ms) Wenonah Kateri Chapman, OP
4. --
5. -- (Your reflection can be here!)
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Subject: Pentecost: Day 2008
Pentecost is a feast of empowering. We are all familiar with the readings and the importance of being filled with the Spirit as one Body in Christ. What struck me as I read these readings, however, was the Plan of God and the realization, once again, that nothing can thwart God. God initiates and God prevails... always has, always will.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles opens with " when the time came for Pentecost was fulfilled". Pentecost and its events were in God's Plan. The reading tells us that the Spirit enabled the disciples to proclaim God's words in different tongues. God's Word will continue to be proclaimed in our languages as well. Speakers of every language will tell of "the mighty works of God" throughout many ages to come.
St. Paul reminds the Corinthians and us that one can proclaim that Jesus is Lord only through the Holy Spirit. He tells us that "the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is given for some benefit". These things are decided upon by God according to His Plan. Look around us. Many people are still manifesting God's goodness and God's power in our world, in spite of the wickedness that we also see.
The Gospel reading from John tells us that God had a different plan for the disciples when they were huddled together behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. He wanted to send them forth, to empower them, to continue His Plan. God wanted them and us to receive the Holy Spirit and continue to proclaim the Good News.
And so, here we are, in 2008. How are we locked behind the closed doors of our own minds and hearts? What are our fears and how do they prevent the Holy Spirit from breaking through in our lives? Honest answers to those hard questions will help us, too, to rejoice as the Holy Spirit descends upon us once again. He will, either welcomed or unnoticed. Eventually we will respond.
Each of us makes many choices. Allowing God into our lives, even and especially to those areas that we don't want touched, will send us forth with new lives, lives more in tune with God's Plan. God will continue to work in our lives until we choose to accept Him fully. God initiates and God prevails... always has and always will. Let us freely choose to accept His graces through the Holy Spirit now so that our lives and the Good News can be proclaimed with rejoicing. Only then will we receive the accompanying gift of Peace.
Blessings,
Dr. Lanie LeBlanc OP
Dominican Laity
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MUSINGS AND OTHER ARTICLES AVAILABLE ON WEB SITE LINK LISTED AT BOTTOM Musings from Michael©
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We Are Next in Line
(Pentecost)
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So many years
Later we still have to deal
With the feast of Pentecost
And its noticeable miracles like
Everyone hearing the sermon
In the language native to the
Hearers for try as we might
We still do not comprehend
It we just understand that
Lots of people seemed
To join the disciples
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But perhaps we
Always miss the meaning
Of this feast unless we focus
On the Gospel for today where
We hear Jesus say peace be
With you and Receive the Holy
Spirit two ways of letting us
Know He is here with us now
And as He Sent the
Disciples now He
Sends us too
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And maybe it is
John’s way of reminding us
That from Abraham through
Moses through the prophets
And John the Baptist there
Is a whole line preparing
For Jesus and the Gospel
So the question for us is
Do we really understand
That it’s not just another
Job since we have been
Chosen because we are
Next in line
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MJK
©Michael J. Kennedy 2008
https://home.comcast.net/~michaeljkennedy/
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Just plain folk.
Simply put, that's who they were.
Just plain folk.
Four hard-working, smelly fisherman. One once-despised tax collector, wealthy at the expense of others. Some were educated. Some were not. There were two sets of brothers. No wealthy priests were to be found in this group. These were the Twelve . those who were handpicked by Jesus. The Son of the living God looked into the faces of "just plain folk" and said "Follow Me." Their own worlds were about to be turned upside down. They would soon become servants of the One they would call Lord. They traveled with Jesus. They sat at his feet and heard the thoughts of his heart and understood those of his Father's heart. for they were one. They stood on the hillsides and the shorelines and heard words that shook society. They were counseled by him. They were transformed by him. And, they were commissioned by him to turn the world upside down. Just plain folk called to radical discipleship.
Tell Paul that he would have become "plain folk" and he would have scoffed. After all, he had advantages of lifestyle and education that placed him on a social and religious level above the "plain folk" of the day. He was an ardent adherent of Judaism and one of the most aggressive persecutors of those who were said to be followers of Christ. In one blinding flash of light, Paul's world turned upside down and he became one of those whom he had persecuted. He heard the words "Follow Me", and became just plain folk called to be a witness to and a servant of the Risen Lord.
These are but a few among the now countless. the faithful who, throughout the centuries, have stepped out of the routines of their lives and turned the world upside down as disciples of Christ. "Follow Me", Jesus says. Transformation takes place as each one of us responds. The doubting believe. The impulsive are focused. The timid become bold. The powerful become servants. And all are equipped with spiritual gifts and accompanied by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Never have they (have we) been left alone.
The life of a Christ-follower is far more than CCD, small groups or worship services. It is a life that responds to "Follow Me." It is a life that is continually transforming, changing us from comfortable followers to faithful and dynamic disciples. And it is our Lord who asks us "plain folk" to turn the "worlds" in our families and in our communities and yes, even throughout the world, upside down.
There is something exciting about the thought of it all...the thought that God says "I really love plain folk. I choose you. I will be with you and guide you. I will give you compassion and strength. I will breathe into you boldness when needed. Be my Son's hands, feet, eyes and heart. Turn the world upside down."
Perhaps, in using the faithful "plain folk" to turn the world upside down, God is reminding us that it's not about the messenger at all. It's about His message of forgiveness and love. And so, fellow "plain folk", know that there are none of us so plain who will not be asked to shake the world in some way!
(Ms) Wenonah Kateri Chapman, OP
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Volume 2 is for you. Your thoughts, reflections, and insights on the next Sundays readings can influence the preaching you hear. Send them to jboll@preacherexchange.org. Deadline is Wednesday Noon. Include your Name, and Email Address.
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