The Holy Spirit

As a member of my church's choir, today, I am going to have the honor of singing at the Mass where fifty-eight of our young people will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This will complete their initiation into the Catholic Church and instill in them the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The gifts are seven in number. 

Wisdom - This gift allows us to value the things of God over the things of this world.

Understanding - This gift empowers us to grasp more fully the truths of God.

Counsel - Through this gift, we are able to know, almost by instinct what is right and to stand up for the truths of our Faith. 

Fortitude - This gift we act on what we learn to be true and have the courage of our convictions and strength to defend them. 

Knowledge -  Through this gift, we attain the ability albeit, in a limited way, the power to see the circumstances of our life as God sees them. This helps us to determine what God wants us to do in life.

Piety - This gift empowers us to go beyond the feeling that we are to obey because we are told so.  Piety allows us to see the good of God's law and we want to obey because it is good. 

Fear of the Lord - This gift gives us the ability to respect God and to not want to offend Him.  It also places in us the certainty that God will supply the graces we need so that we will not offend Him. 

I still remember the night I was confirmed.  At that time, things were a little different. The ceremony was very similar to what the young men and women will experience today.  One thing they will not experience is the slap. In my day the bishop would administer a slap to the face of each person he confirmed.  This slap was to remind you that you would suffer persecution for your faith and that through this sacrament you were now a soldier for Christ. 

Imagine that!  On that one night, I went from being just a snotty young seventh grader to a soldier in the army of God.  What did I feel on that glorious day?  To be honest, not a whole lot.  When I left the church I could only think of the pizza we were going to have when we got home.  Does this mean that the sacrament was but a sham?  Does it mean that it had no effect on me?  Certainly not.  

That day I did become a soldier of Christ and I did receive the seven gifts, and I did become in God's eyes a spiritual adult and one of His ambassadors. It would take time and the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit over the long yet swiftly running years between that Thursday evening and today.  There would be times when I went my own way and would find myself in a foreign land among aliens who did not know and did not want to know my Father.  There were times when I was angry at my Father and let Him know so in no uncertain terms. He responded by gently calling my name one afternoon when I poured out my heart in the confessional at St. Peter's Church in downtown Chicago where the priest welcomed me, the prodigal son, back again.

Over the years I have been blessed because I have always felt the presence of God in my life.  I have experienced no black night of the soul because my Father knows that I would perish without his Presence.  Over the years, He has led me, step by step, as we faced together one fault or another.  He has been with me in times that tried my soul to its limit when I buried my mother and then my father. He has comforted me in the sorrow and loneliness I feel because the family I grew up with have turned their backs on me and abandoned me. He has shared the great joy I feel when I contemplate the blessing he bestowed on me by giving me Mary my wife of twenty-four years (so far.) 

I guess what I am trying to say here is that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to all who are confirmed.  These gifts do not manifest themselves all at once. I think they are there as a treasury of power to be drawn upon when needed.  

Our young people who will be confirmed today will walk away from church changed forever, yet they might not realize it for some time.  May they receive these gifts and may they prove as useful to them as they did to me.   

Come, Holy Spirit, Come. 

Light our hearts that we may bear the cross of life and carry it with courage as we share the Word of God with those who so desperately need it.  Amen. 

Christmas Wish

Tony stirred restlessly in his bed. He glanced to the right and looked out of the window in his room.  The snow was still coming down, this was surely going to be a white Christmas. His brothers all had sent letters to Santa, although they knew that Santa was the man known as Dad.  Tony did not submit a list this year.  He longed for peace, he longed for quiet, he longed for rest. He wanted to go home for Christmas. None of these things could be delivered by Santa or even that most powerful man in his life, Dad.  

He stared out the window and found joy in the white snowflakes that were hitting his window. Tomorrow was Christmas day.  He remembered last year. He had joined the other kids in presenting a Christmas Play, he proudly played Joseph. He smiled as he remembered how he had spent hours mastering the dialogue.  How he recited it for Mom and Dad over and over again until he had it perfect.  He was nervous that night but Dad came over and put his hand on his shoulder and told him that he knew he could pull this off. And he did! Ms. McMahn, his teacher, told him that he was the best Joseph she had ever had in her Christmas play. The crowd applauded all of the players but when he was introduced the audience got to their feet and gave him a standing ovation. There was no way he could bow since he was confined to a wheel chair but he bowed his head in humble acceptance of the crowds acclimation of his performance.  A tear formed in the corner of his eye as he remembered that most happy of his life. He wiped the tear away and once again turned his attention to the window.

The snow was hitting the window and the lights from the street were changing the water drops into a colorful display of red, green, orange, and white.  He closed his eyes and with thought of the beautiful display of colors on the window he fell into a deep, deep sleep,  Not long after he closed his eyes he saw a beautiful vision, a land filled with light and colors. He slowly looked around and he knew the people that were standing in front of him even though he had never seen them before. They were all smiling. Young people, old people, boys and girls, all had a look of joy and peace on their face. He began walking forward, yes walking, the wheel chair was left behind.  As he got closer he saw everyone was smiling at him and then a great noise thundered as all of the people applauded for him.  A cheer rang out.  He began running toward the people and a very gentle looking man stepped in front of the crowd and Tony did the only thing he could think of, he leaped into the man's arms.  The man held him in his strong but gentle arms and whispered to him, "My name is Jesus, welcome home."  Tony was home for Christmas.

I felt compelled to write this short story, call it an inspiration but I believe someone out there needs to read this story which is designed to bring comfort.  God bless all of you this day.  Please remember to pray for all those who are going home to heaven this day. Pray that they feel the warm embrace of the Lord and that they are not afraid.  And for those who are losing a beloved mother, father or son, or daughter, remember we are made for heaven and those that we love will greet us there someday.