As we celebrate this Pentecost Sunday, we hear of the action of the Holy Spirit, as it descended upon the Disciples. How they began to speak, and how the crowd gathered from all over the known world, could hear and understand them through the Spirits grace. When we hear this, we often think simply of a difference in languages that was overcome through this grace, but there is more.
Each one of us, when we receive the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments is imbued with the Spirit and with the gifts that are part of that. The gifts themselves are many, and varied depending upon our needs, what our Lord sees as the help we require to do His will, and where we are with our relationship with Him. You see it is not just languages that can be stumbling blocks for those who are trying to listen for the message our Lord wants to convey, whether it be through others guided by the Spirit, or from what we experience directly. For all of us, our hearts and minds must be open to the Holy Spirits message and gifts, at least as much as our spiritual ears.
The message to each of us is completely unique, just as we are unique parts of the Body of Christ. There is no greater or lesser gift or gifts, it is simply what we as unique creations of our Lord require to do His will. They will come when He knows we are ready for them, and in the exact proportion required. The gifts and the way they come to us are perfection, it is then up to us to use them to the best of our ability, and even beyond that through the action and grace of the Spirit.
When our Lord came to his Disciples, and breathed upon them, they received His peace, and His authority to forgive or bind sins, because of the common mission they had been called to. This mission continues today, but it is not the only one. Be open to God’s place for you in His plan, to the unique mission that He has in mind for you to perform in His service. To sit idly by and simply watch as those around us are in need, is the only incorrect course of action. No matter who we are or where we are in life, we are still here because He has things for us to accomplish, and we in turn need to submit humbly in loving service to those tasks. There is no greater peace or fulfillment than when we serve in Gods plan.
The Deacons Bench 