St Agnes Catholic church Served by the Order of Carmelites 1954 N

Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Church. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit in a new way, Christ continues his work on the earth. How does he do this? The Spirit continually gathers men and women into the Body of Christ, his Church. We are called into his Church, first and foremost for our own salvation. We soon learn, however, that our own salvation is accomplished only through love: the love of God for us and our love for our God and neighbor.

God gives us his love first through our own creation, our life. In response to the great abyss that human sin opened up between ourselves and God, he begins creation again. Not as in the days of Noah and the flood, but in Christ Jesus, God takes the initiative again. He gives his creation a new goal, to become like Christ, to enter into the Son's relationship with the Father. How can we, sinful humanity, accomplish this? We cannot. Only the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives bring the Father and the Son to dwell within us.

Another name for the Holy Spirit is Uncreated Grace. Often times in prayer we ask for this grace or that grace. The Holy Spirit is Grace, the way God gives Himself to us. The graces we seek are very important to our progress as Christians and to help others in need. Various graces are given to us by Grace itself, the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit in the world who communicated God's creative power as described on the first page of Genesis. It is the Spirit who speaks through the history and prophets of Israel. It is the Spirit who overshadows the Virgin Mary at the Incarnation of the Son. It is the Spirit who appears at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. It is through the Eternal Spirit that Jesus offers his sacrifice of the Cross for our salvation. And it is the Spirit poured out on the Church to sanctify us and give us the courage to work for reconciliation of all with the Father.

In other words, the Holy Spirit is always at work in the world. Let us pray that the Spirit is at work in each one of us, moving us to work to build up the Body of Christ. In Christ, God acted through one human being to bring about salvation. In the Spirit, God acts to share this salvation with all humanity and the whole of creation. Come, Holy Spirit!!!

Peace, Fr. Bradley Peterson, O. Carm.