JUNE 8, 2025

“Receive the Holy Spirit.” In the first reading of today’s Mass we hear the account of Pentecost. Pentecost was the great day on which the growth of the Church first exploded. Three thousand people from all walks of life listened to a “fisherman” speak about Jesus Christ, whose death they had demanded just a few weeks before. They were moved by what they heard and asked to be baptized. This is the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus breathed on His disciples.

The Holy Spirit transformed all those people. But, to me, no transformation was more astonishing than the conversion of Peter. One would barely recognize Peter now. Just weeks before, he ran from Jesus. Today, in the Gospel, he no longer hides. Today, he deploys more even energy in preaching than he ever did before in hiding. A few days before, Peter was frightened by the voice of a servant, and very soon he will stand bold and firm under the blows of the chief priests.

Who could now doubt the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, when we can see this transformation in St. Peter? We should all pray to that same Holy Spirit: “Come, O Holy Spirit, do the same with me”? If the Spirit could do that in Peter, what couldn’t the Spirit do in your soul and mine? Peter became bold and fearless in his life with Jesus, thanks to the Holy Spirit. Don’t we also need help in becoming more bold and fearless in our relationship with Jesus? If we let the Holy Spirit work in us, if we’re docile to Him, we will get rid of our defects and grow in virtue.

This past week our school celebrated as our eighth graders graduated and move on to high school. We also rejoiced as our school children completed their classwork and move on to a new grade. It’s an exciting time for them all. We, as a parish community, ought to pray that the Holy Spirit may come down upon all of our school children and their families make them become bold and fearless disciples of Jesus.

Then, we can and should ask that the Holy Spirit do the same for us. May each and every one of us receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, shake off any fear and boldly proclaim Jesus Christ to our neighborhood, our city, our world. If we become more like Peter in this regard, the Church in Mt. Greenwood will explode with the love of Jesus.

We can and should pray for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, too. She is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. She was there on Pentecost too. Imagine her eyes glowing with love and joy as she saw that transformation in Peter, whom she loved. And Mary is now with us every day, helping us to be docile to the Holy Spirit. Let’s imagine Mary’s smile when she sees us transformed by the Holy Spirit into another Peter, a daring apostle of her Son. Imagine her maternal pride as she watches us telling everyone about how much God loves them. Imagine her joy as we share all that Jesus has in store for them if they too become temples of the Holy Spirit!

Oremus pro invicem!

Fr. Ryan P. Brady
Pastor of St. Christina Parish