With all that has transpired in the course of the presidential campaigns, it may be hard to imagine it's only mid-June. No doubt, there will be much demand upon our senses and sensibilities in the coming months and, no doubt, we will--if somewhat ruefully--allow our collective attention to be consumed with the rhetoric of partisan politics. But let me invite you to take a brief respite from the pundits and polls this July, which marks the twenty-third World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia.
The theme: "You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). You will notice that I have taken this theme for my blog, intent as I am (and as the Holy Father clearly is) upon promoting Christian witness, especially among youth, who deeply desire a personal experience of the love of Christ and to share that experience with others. As if there were any doubt, the Holy Father re-affirms the need--indeed, the imperative--for Christian witness, which is integral to our faith. This imperative to share what we have received stems from our fundamental understanding of God as love (Latin caritas, Greek agape) itself (1 John 4:8). This gift of love, the promise of the Father, which is the Spirit (Acts 1:5), must be shared!
The question is, do we believe that the Holy Spirit continues to work in us and through us, even in our own day? Do we believe Jesus when He says that He "will not leave [us] orphans," but will send us His Spirit? (John 14:18). Or that we are left to build the Kingdom with our own devices alone? No, never! Trust in the Holy Spirit is the antidote to the poison of fear--fear of rejection and failure--that too often prevents us from going out and proclaiming the Gospel among our peers. I speak from experience when I say that when we surrender ourselves to the will of the Holy Spirit in our lives, those fears simply melt away, and, like Peter on Pentecost, we are emboldened to proclaim that Jesus is Lord (Acts 2:36). This is exactly what our community needs today!
And so I ask you to pray with me, in the words of Blessed John XXIII, that the Lord "renew [His] wonders in this day, as by a new Pentecost." Pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Catholic Church, upon our Holy Father and all who attend World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. Pray for our own community, that the Holy Spirit fill us with the love of Christ and empower us to proclaim the Gospel.
As usual, EWTN will provide complete coverage of World Youth Day, which you may watch via their live internet feed. A complete programming schedule is also available on their website or, if you have the good fortune of knowing me, from... well, me!
In His peace.
1 comment:
I should not be surprised: you are an excellent writer!
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