pentecost revisited
"On our festival of Pentecost, the feast of Weeks, a fine dinner was prepared for me, and I reclined to eat." —Tobit 2:1
In exile, Tobit celebrated the feast of Pentecost. At this time, most of the chosen people were so oppressed they didn't even have the courage to break an unjust law prohibiting them from burying their dead. Nevertheless, that night Tobit secretly buried a man his son had found murdered in the marketplace (Tb 2:4). Tobit had previously been arrested for this "crime" of burying the dead. Now he awaited further reprisals from the government. His was a miserable Pentecost.
Possibly Pentecost 2001 was also miserable for you. Your Pentecost may have been marred by death, sin, and fear. The Spirit may be more stifled in your life than ever (1 Thes 5:19). Like Tobit, you may be in tears (Tb 2:7).
But there is hope. You can have Pentecost late. You can have Pentecost now. If you repent and believe, not even the worst circumstances can prevent the Spirit from being stirred into flame in your life (2 Tm 1:6). Go to Confession, surrender your life to Jesus, and ask for the Spirit (Lk 11:13). The Lord "does not ration His gift of the Spirit" (Jn 3:34). The Spirit will be "lavished on us through Jesus Christ our Savior" (Ti 3:6).
Prayer: Father, I repent of all things that lessen my thirst for the Spirit (Jn 7:37). Come, Holy Spirit!
Promise: "The Stone rejected by the builders has become the Keystone of the structure. It was the Lord Who did it and we find it marvelous to behold." —Mk 12:10-11
Praise: Young Martin made a life-long decision to tithe when he happened to see how much money his widowed mother gave to the church each week.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, January 4, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 24, 2001