The sad truth about the greatest gifts in our lives is that we rarely appreciate them until we lose them. Even if we are grateful for them while we have them, often we do not fully understand how much we’ll miss them until they are gone.
I always loved my dad, and I knew I would miss him when he was gone. That said, I had no idea how much I would associate terrible jokes with his memory once he was no longer with us in this life. It is cliché to say, as the song does, “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone,” but it also seems that it’s almost impossible to know how much we’ll miss something until we carry that cross.

Many folks have been struggling in the absence of the regular practice of the sacraments. Similarly, many are excited that we are returning to at least some public celebrations. One of the things we should be taking to prayer is how this experience of a virtual church affected us. What can we learn from how we reacted to this change in how we worshipped? The last few weeks were something of a traumatic event for the entire world, and we as a parish region need to meditate on what happened to us and what God is asking us to learn. When we go through something significant, either positive or negative, we should always take the time to step back and pray about what God’s presence is in all this. Pentecost, the great feast of the Holy Spirit which we celebrate today, is a
perfect opportunity to do this.

St. Josemaria Escriva once wrote that “The Holy Spirit performs God’s works in the world. He is, as the liturgical hymn sings, the giver of gifts, the light of hearts, the soul’s guest, rest in work, and consolation in sorrow. Without his help, there is nothing in man that is innocent and worthy, because it is the Holy Spirit who cleanses what is stained, cures what is sick, enkindles what is cold, straightens what has gone astray, and leads men to the door of salvation and eternal joy” The last few weeks have shown us the great heights to which mankind sometimes rises: the way we can help each other, serve our neighbor, and find ways to lift our spirits in hard times. We have also seen greed, selfishness, and disregard in ways that are surprising to all but the cynical. If this is happening in the world, then it is also happening in our parishes, our families, and ourselves. We should take the time to sit with this experience, process it, and learn from it.
 
This knowledge of ourselves and our communities can only help us to grow closer to God. If we are going to respond fully to God’s grace, then we have to know the places where we need his healing. Where are we sick? How are we lost? What do we need? If we invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts this Pentecost, He will guide us to all truth, and truth, as Our Lord tells us, will set us free. Pray to the Father to send the Holy Spirit upon us for the sake of renewal in our lives and in our Church.
 
Prayers always,
Fr. McC