Pentecost propels us to rise above the ordinary noise and proclaim the Good News
by Sister Elise Cholewinski
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend time with one of our Sisters who was dying in a nursing home. As I sat by her bedside praying the rosary, I was reminiscing about her life and personality. The one thing that stands out in my memory is Sister Rose Marie’s voice; she loved to sing. Whenever I would be at the convent for Mass or prayer, I could always recognize that voice. It was clear and distinct, and carried a certain spirit. I will miss her and I will miss the sound of that voice, praising God in song.
On this great Solemnity of Pentecost, we recall how the Holy Spirit descended upon the community of disciples and propelled them forth into the streets of Jerusalem to proclaim the Gospel. Freed from the fear that kept them behind locked doors, they boldly announced three things about Jesus. First, He had been raised from the dead. Second, they were His witnesses. Third, Jesus is Lord and Messiah. Above the noise of the thousands who had gathered in the holy city for this Jewish holy day, their message rang out loud and clear. A Church was being born.
Our call today is to rise above the voices that distract people from hearing the Good News: the cheap conversations of sitcoms, the din of TV commercials, the endless reporting of conflicts and mass shootings and sports trivia. Our challenge is to rouse the world from complacency and hopelessness.
Hopefully each of us has had an encounter with the Risen Lord. Are we willing to allow the door of fear to be unlocked and to tell our story with conviction? Can we proclaim the message in a voice that is clear and distinct? In the midst of all that is dying around us, can our voices still carry the power of the Spirit?
What a wonderful reflection. Great questions for us to ponder today and every day in our crazy world. Thank you, Sr. Elise.