May 14, 2010
The Bishop's Forum
A promise kept
by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger
Every time a young person receives the Sacrament of Confirmation each is anointed on the forehead with Sacred Chrism signifying that Jesus has kept a personal promise to each of them, his adopted brother and sister. It is the same promise given to the Apostles.
When Jesus announced to the often-times bewildered apostles and disciples following the Resurrection that he would be leaving them, he promised to ask the Father to send the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon them. The Holy Spirit would empower them to be faithful to everything he had taught them.
We celebrate Jesus’ departure this coming Sunday, the Feast of the Ascension. The apostles had heard Jesus’ promise, but they had not heard nor understood it! They stood in wonderment gazing into the sky as Jesus left them; they were facing the unknown.
Does that feeling of “facing the unknown” sound familiar, facing the unknown as we launch into plans to address some of the major issues in our diocese?
But the planning process is not about resolving issues! It is about re-energizing each of us and thereby re-energizing our parishes. It is about carrying out Jesus’ mandate to all the baptized to go throughout the world proclaiming the Good News!
How are we to enliven ourselves to carry out that basic mandate in our time and place? It is not all that clear, so we will carry on like the apostles following Pentecost going forward filled with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus assures us no less than he did the apostles that “he will make all things new” and that he will be with us until the end of time. He had also taught by his example that even the Son of God needed regularly to turn to the Father in prayer. We must do no less!
Let us then make it our daily prayer as individuals, as families, as parishioners gathered at Liturgy, as priests, deacons, and ministers to all invoke the Holy Spirit:
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray!
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy his consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Next week: The Seven-Fold Gifts of Pentecost