Monday, April 20th, 2020

Boring. Drab. Fossilised. Old. These are some words that our contemporaries can have little difficulty in associating with the Catholic Church. One thinks of the cathedral of Gotham city as portrayed cathedral in the 1989 movie Batman. An interior cold, black, dusty which no one save pigeons and rats has been making use of for now many years. It’s still at the heart of the city: even in desolate decay, it evokes awe. But its empty: its not like it is part of anyone’s daily life. 

Which is what makes what we hear in the first reading all the more shocking: As they prayed, the house where they were assembled rocked; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly. But Father, where can I find this church? I would love to be part of something like this. Its true: not one wants to be a cold abandoned statue. But to be filled with life, united in a strong group - this is what every human heart desires. And it is this which is what we should be offering them.

But we cannot offer what we do not have. And this unity is not a human invention. It is the gift of God, in the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a gently weak wisp of air. United to the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is the virility of creation and is fire! Part of the reason we may not experience this is we do not call on him: let us call on him daily! Part of the reason also maybe because we try and to things by ourself: we are made for community life! And only flourish in that way. Let’s decide to call on the Holy Spirit daily, and join or rechoose active life in a Catholic parish, group or community.

Let us pray:

Grant, we pray, almighty God,

that we, who have been renewed by paschal remedies,

transcending the likeness of our earthly parentage,

may be transformed in the image of our heavenly maker.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.