May 2-3, 2009
Fourth Sunday of Easter
HAVEN Confirmation
Acts 4:8-12 First John 3:1-2 John 10:11-18
Where do they find the selfless courage to do what they do? The people that run into burning buildings to save others or throw themselves in front of those in danger….the people who risk death by diving into the ocean to save the drowning or crawling beneath the rumbling girders of a collapsed structure…from what well of super-hero strength do they draw? In his day, Peter is portrayed as the resolute and courageous person standing up in the crowd and talking about Jesus.
This is the same Peter who denied even knowing Jesus on three different occasions. How was this transformation from coward to courageous made possible? The hint of course is in the first line from the First Reading…. ‘filled with the Holy Spirit….’…. of course, it is none other than the Holy Spirit, to whom we pray to transform the face of the earth, the giver of seven-fold gifts of grace, the one who danced on the face of the earth as it was being formed, Sophia, wisdom, breath of God, pneuma…. suffice it to say that a little bit of the Holy Spirit can go a long way.
The power of the Holy Spirit is juxtaposed with the imagery of Jesus as a ‘Good Shepherd’, a shepherd who protects and guides his flock, who is willing to give his very life for those he shepherds. History allows us the perspective to see that the testimony of Peter and the other early disciples caused them to be cruelly tortured and killed. Through the blood of the apostle’s conviction the early Church grew and was strengthened, in a way, each convert became a shepherd for others within the community, each having a vested stake in protecting and nurturing the flock. People who had simply been fisherman, tax collectors and women accompanying the early disciples, were empowered by the Holy Spirit to open their homes for prayer and early Eucharist. They found it within themselves to retell the stories of Jesus’ life, especially the story of the empty tomb…and most importantly they demonstrated in their lives that they were completely committed to Jesus and HIS Church. As we welcome the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon 25 of our HAVEN youth this weekend, how courageous are we in ways of faith.
If we are inconvenienced in any way from our personal Masses of Convenience…do we skip the family meal (Eucharist) all together? How many times have we told a coach, a PTA president or School Exam or neighborhood association board that it would not be possible for us to attend a meeting or a game or a tournament or a test….all because it conflicted with something of value within our Catholic faith? Courage is not something reserved for the big moments, it might be something as small as pausing to say a quiet grace before chowing down on the burger from In-and-Out on a Friday night with friends, it might be abstaining from alcohol so that there is at least one designated driver to get everyone home safely, it might be walking with the outcast while others maker fun, it might even be saying YES to God but NO to religion. Roman Catholicism is a VERY big and diverse family, we manifest the Good Shepherd best when we have each other’s back…and frequently that takes courage. Come Holy Spirit…..
Thank you for sharing this weekend with our Corpus Christi Community. In a very special way we congratulate our 25 HAVEN youth who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday night: Tara Arbogast, Tyler Bolton, Molly Cantwell, Christina Chouinard, Christian Chua, Matthew Dempsey, Morgan Foster, Ashley Gilhooley, Tara Hernandez, Kaitlin Herndon, Jill Jelnick, Daniel Kibbe, Tess Kleinhammes, Molly Lindheimer, Marica Mackey, Matthew Melissa, Shelby Mocnik, Brad Murray Joey Newkirk, Danielle Orlowski, Cassie Paine, Monica Palomino, Stephanie Ploof, Nick Santala, Siobhan Wicks.. Bishop Estabrook, a chaplain of the Military Vicariate with a residence in orange County has been the Confirming prelate and it was our honor to host him amongst us.
Thank you Bishop Estabrook! Please take a Bulletin with you as you depart. Tomorrow, Sunday, May 3rd, the First Saturday Men’s fellowship is hosting an afternoon ‘Spring Picnic’ on the lawn, an opportunity to meet some of the guys and find out the benefits of their monthly gathering. The POPs Camp Out (for dads with their kids) on Saturday, May 16th is approaching, reservation forms are available on the Concierge Shelves…and last but far from least, Mother’s Day is next weekend and special remembrance cards are available on the Concierge Shelves. In all you do this week, have courage, watch each other’s back and remember, you are loved. FKB
