PENTECOST SUNDAY 2006 June 4, 2006

Acts 2: 1-11 Psalm 104 Gal 5:16-25 John 15: 26-27; 16 : 1-15

1. Go out to the whole world and preach the good news. Here were a rag-tag bunch of fishermen - lambs thrown to the wolves. They were asked to go the whole world. They were like a set of minor league players taking on Major League World Series Champions.

The turning point however is today’s feast, today’s Gift: the Descent of the Holy Spirit. They say when you are hungry enough for something, size does not matter - even a David can take on Goliath. A small group made up of fishermen, tax collector, zealot and no-name brand bunch of women have over the period of 2000 years grown today into over a Billion catholics spanning five continents. This is all because the Spirit of Truth had come and continues to come down on them. The Spirit of truth has given Christians guidance and words to Witness that the Kingdom of God has come and is present among us. Community of believers have gathered in parishes name after Mary, the Saints and events in the life of Christ like the Parish of the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Annunciation.

2. St. Paul in the second reading gives us a measuring stick for the group of this community of believers. He said that they will be filled with peace, joy, love, patience, generosity. You can certainly see that in this parish of Our Lady of Lourdes. Without pausing for breath I can name at least 10 who fulfill these qualities as shining beacons for all to admire and imitate. Paul also warns us against destructive tendencies in a Church. These are jealousy, anger, drunkenness, infidelity to name a few. surprisingly enough I can find both the good and bad in myself. In spite of this contradiction, God still calls me through my baptism to witness to the fact that Christ has died, Christ has risen and Christ will come again. And because of this fact, we all have been made Children of God with a gift of Eternal life.

3. So what are the issues that face Our Church in 2006. The issues are many, but I will stick to three and hopefully briefly. These are as I see them. You can and will think that there are other issues that are more important.

a. The first is the shortage of priests. We are fortunate to have THREE daily Masses and Seven on the weekend. In ten years time, this will change. Those who celebrate weekly Masses will not be here and there are none in training to replace them. Get used to the fact.

 The Laity have been asked to take a more active role in the church. Unfortunately over the last century and perhaps even more, the Laity have been asked to limit their involvement to praying, obeying and paying. The Laity have not been given any active say in Choice of Bishops, the training of priests, an input into the Spiritual life and Growth of our Church. Is it fair now to ask the Laity to take charge overnight? Secondly, there are still some of us priests who hold on to power or perceived power and prestige.

b. The second issue is what is the stable unit or building block of our church. It is the family. For me in the past it has been Dad and Mum and children. Single Catholics, who chose that life or had that life imposed on them due to caring for aged parents or circumstances were considered part of family. However, our new reality is that there are single parent family and in our parish a large gay community. Both society and the church have given a silent and at times vocal disapproval of this part of our church.

 The Church can circle the wagons, build a moat around and keep “these people” away. If we do, the church is bound to implode and self destruct because as Jesus Christ has said - all are welcome to the Table of the Lord, and He is the Good Shepherd who wants everyone to be welcome. “There are other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also. There will be one flock and one shepherd.” John Ch.10.

 On the other hand, the Gospel, and traditions and customs evolved over 2000 years cannot be jettisoned just to be popular and trying to please everyone. This balance in our challenge. The Holy Spirit will guide believers in truth as to what is relevant and important today as the Holy Spirit did at the first Pentecost.

c. The Third issue is the Message of the Gospel. At the first Pentecost, Parthians, Medes and Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia (present day Iran) Judea and Cappadocia, Muslim Egypt, (Gaddafi’s) Libya - people speaking different languages all understood the Good News.

 Apart from Hindi and Mandarin, English is the most widespread language, so how is it that the Good News is not being spread - in fresh, new and innovative ways. This year we celebrate the Anniversary of 500 years of the birth of Francis Xavier. He is considered the St. Paul of the 16th century.

 On his way to India, he was observed patching a threadbare cassock and putting new soles on his worn out shoes. He appeared in this way when he went into Japan and he was promptly shown the door. If you have some Rich and Grand to offer, then your dress and manner should also be Rich and Grand. Today big business is done on expensive Golf Courses and with double martini and Filet Mignon dinners. And so Francis Xavier came with the required documents from the King of Portugal and as a delegate from the same King. Francis Xavier realized that he had a Message more precious than silver, gold and diamonds.

4. In his time, Jesus preached in Synagogues to Pharisees and Scribes, from boats to fishermen, and used parables of a farmer who sowed seed and a Vinedresser who pruned vines. Today, I picture Jesus with an I-pod headset, with a cell phone in his pocket, text messaging his Apostles, and perhaps moving to the beat of rap music. Jesus Christ, Superstar and Godspell were a couple of decades ahead of their times.

Are we willing to look at Jesus like that, or are we going to be like Simon the Pharisee who invited Jesus over for dinner and then criticized him, “if he were a Rabbi, he would know who and what type of woman is the one who is kissing his feet.” The challenge is to think outside the box !

The message of Jesus today is awesome and frightening, no wonder it sound like a strong wind which shook the very room in which the Apostles stood. There were tongues of fire over each person. Perhaps our Church needs another strong wind to shake us all up. Blessed Pope John 23 opened a window with Vatican Two. May the Spirit of Lord fall afresh on us.

APPENDIX

Our church today, will find perhaps the following composition in the pews – of people who seek God’s help

• a husband and wife who have just quarreled.
• An altar served who is upset
• A single mother who tries to hold her head up high
• Teenagers who are tired after partying into early hours
• A bankrupt farmer or householder
• 40 old single son who comes home, and is not on talking terms with his father.
• A thirty year old who has been told of cancer of the lymph nodes.

The Holy Spirit has marked each of these out to be the children of god. The Holy spirit rushes in as God did at the first Pentecost transforming fearful and hurting hearts into a forgiving group united in the Love of Jesus Christ.