THE SPIRIT

THE SPIRIT

“God does not ration his gift of the spirit” (Jn 3:34)

The artists of the world have, unfortunately, framed our image of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus told the disciples to await the descent of the Paraclete, which translates to advocate, or intercessor.   Sadly, some people think the word is parakeet.  The images of a Dove with rays coming from its wings is a popular one, and might actually contribute to the error, but the almighty power of the Spirit is diminished by such a description.

In the book, The Shack, by Paul Young, the spirit is called Sarayu (wind). Sarayu captures perfectly the quality of free movement, constant activity and omnipresence of the Spirit of God.   This characterization has been described as the best depiction of the Spirit ever written.  I can’t disagree.

God does not ration his gift of the spirit. 

The spirit of God is at work throughout the world every second of every day, unrestrained and undeterred.   The sudden urges to help someone, the true spirit of forgiveness that arises in a grudge-filled heart, the continuing hope despite circumstances that people feel, are all the work of the Spirit.  Things we describe as miracles, such as a change of heart or a sudden true conversion, are the Spirit working within our spirits.

I don’t write these articles, the Spirit does.  I do the typing; the Spirit has the ideas. When I finish one, I go away from it and wait. A change of word here, a phrase there pop into my head and I obey.  Believe me, there was a time in my life, if anyone had said this to me, I would have thought they were nuts.  I know better now.

The Spirit is your best friend.  Unlike human friends, the Spirit will never abandon you to your own devices.  Whatever you face, call on the Spirit and wait.  That is the secret.  Wait, trust, believe and the road will smooth out before you.  It takes practice, but it is worth it and it brings the peace promised by Jesus.

God does not ration his gift of the spirit. 

Blessings on you all,

Carol Lemelin, OPA

DISCIPLES

DISCIPLES

I recently read an article by someone whose spiritual guidance I have always admired, but this time he cast doubt on the Resurrection.  I was very sad. This glorious event, this one of a kind happening, which changed literally everything, is the cornerstone of my faith and the final proof of the existence of God.  I confess to being a skeptic sometimes, but I believe wholly in the presence of God in the world.  If you look at it historically you see God guiding the ancient people toward the eventual arrival of the Messiah.  Then Christ’s miracle-filled life fulfilled all the prophecies such as this from Deut. 18:15-20

           

            A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you

            from among your own kin; to him you shall listen in all that he

            may say to you.  Everyone who does not listen to that prophet

            will be cut off from the people.

In order for the world to know that God is present, the final miracle, that of resurrection from the dead had to happen.  As a beloved pastor used to remind us, this is not pretend, this is reality. It was the resurrection of Jesus that energized his disciples and gave them the courage to wait as he told them for the Holy Spirit to come to them and give them the wisdom they would need to fulfill his mission.

In one of her poems, Edwina Gately describes Jesus as “cutting through the crowds like an axe through wood.”  It also describes the Apostles following the resurrection of Jesus.  This mismatched group, taxmen, patricians, and fishermen, who lived and learned together for three years, felt lost and afraid at the death of Jesus only to be lifted to new heights by the Resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The period after Easter is truly the time of the Apostles. As we read from The Acts of of the Apostles, their brave witness in front of the very people who orchestrated the death of Jesus reads like the most wonderful come from behind story. Suddenly, everything Jesus said and did made sense and they were able to speak with conviction and courage.

We, who believe as strongly in Jesus, should be feeling the same kind of courage and conviction following the Easter celebration. We don’t have to wait for the Holy Spirit to come; the Spirit is already within us.  We are disciples, too.  We have the same obligation to further the work of Christ and, because of his death and resurrection, we have all the tools we need.  Many people are longing for the peace that Christ can bring and unless a true witness tells them about it, they may never know.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

HE IS RISEN AS HE SAID!

HE IS RISEN AS HE SAID!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I know, it’s not January 1^st and it’s not Pentecost, it’s not even the Chinese New Year, but Easter is actually the beginning of a new year of faith for all of us.  Jesus was not a failure, as crucifixion would seem to indicate.  He triumphed instead proving once and for all that God exists and the He, with the Father and the Spirit, is God.

We’ve spent Lent trying to understand what it must have been like in Christ’s time. We heard of the Temptation of Jesus, the Transfiguration of Jesus and the treachery of Judas.  We’ve listened to stories about people’s encounters with Jesus that changed their lives.  The Samaritan Woman, the man born blind and Lazarus were never the same.  They were transformed into new people with a new outlook on life and most especially, they became followers of the Messiah, unafraid and energized. 

So, what did Lent do for us?  Are we energized to follow Jesus more fervently?  Were we listening as Jesus defied temptation and decided to do the Will of God?  Did we visualize the moment when he revealed his true self to selected disciples?  Did we cringe at the moment when Judas betrayed him to the authorities? 

 Are we changed with a new outlook? Are we ready to face the world with confidence in his word?  Are we ready to live with Jesus by our side forsaking anything that keeps us from loving Him absolutely?

Easter is the day to renew our faith, a day to probe our hearts to find that core of love for Jesus that prompts us to live for him.  This glorious day, when all the prophecies are fulfilled, is a day unlike any other, full of wonder, joy and the determination to be worthy of it. 

Look to the empty cross, and then the empty tomb and know that Christ has overcome death as he promised.  Let that knowledge fill your spirit with renewed energy to live and work and pray to bring that same spirit to the part of the world that is yours.

Easter Blessings be yours,

Carol Lemelin OPA

HOLY WEEK

From the time I started school until I graduated, Holy Week was a big deal.  It meant going to church a lot.  There were many rituals connected to each of the three days, which today we call The Triduum.  I remember the incense, the extra candles, the flowers around the Holy Thursday altar.  We used to go and visit other churches and each one seemed to out-decorate the one before it.  Good Friday meant absolute silence and fasting from Noon to 3PM.  That is one custom I have kept even though the Church itself has pretty much abandoned it. 

It wasn’t until my children were teens and we had no transportation to church for the services that I began to research all the meaning behind the ritual.  From there I began to actually work in the Church and participate in the preparation and execution of those same events.  It was then I began to have a true understanding of the awesome drama that unfolded and how the Church has created ritual to dramatize these powerful events. 

In the weeks prior to Holy Week, we read how Jesus was preparing his disciples for the inevitable events that were to come.  Even though they were afraid, they did not abandon Him but made their way to Jerusalem with Him.  Palm Sunday finds them in the midst of tumultuous welcome. They must have felt so relieved. They did not understand that by Friday they wouldn’t have a friend in the world. 

Holy Thursday is ironically a day of celebration.  It celebrates the institution of the Eucharist, which is the foundation of our faith life.  At the very end of the service, though, the church recreates the desolation of the Agony in the Garden and the Arrest of Jesus by stripping the altar bare and removing the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle.  All this is to turn our hearts to the dreadful events to come; the fear of the Apostles, the scourging of our Blessed Lord and the traitorous behavior of Judas. 

Good Friday, which some would say is the Original Black Friday, is called thus because it once meant ‘holy’ and since the day leads to the Resurrection it has not been altered.  In our world, however, there is little or no recognition or commemoration of the day so it presents a challenge to Christians to observe the day quietly and in their own way.  I worked in a store once and asked the management to turn the music off during those hours.  They complied and many workers thanked me for helping them observe the day and still do their jobs. 

Whatever your situation is, there are ways to observe these days and think on the meaning of them.  Christ, our beloved, is subjected to worst the world has to offer.

Our prayers and readings and thoughts will bring us closer to Him.  Recognizing the reality of the events of Holy Week is essential to our understanding of what Christ’s sacrifice means to the world.  His solidarity with the human race is the greatest lesson of all. 

May God Bless you and give you peace.  May you walk with Jesus in his last hours filled with gratitude and love.

 Carol  Lemelin OPA