Inspired Lives at Pentecost.

If you love me you will keep my commandments.
I shall ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate
to be with you for ever.

Inspiration.

The word itself gives a sense of spontaniety, ingenuity, change and excitement all rolled into one.   Inspire is derived from the word “to breathe into”, just as though the Holy Spirit was giving new life to the Apostles on Pentecost day, changing their lives and reviving their souls which were drooping in fear and loneliness after the ascension.

The Holy Spirit, pure energy pouring from God, has the power to change us and to breathe life into our sometimes empty existence.   We reflect it in our colloquial language – “a breath of fresh air” can be used to describe a welcome innovation or even a refreshing person to be around.   “Isn’t she a breath of fresh air?”  one might say to a new colleague who is happy and confident.   “Open the windows and let some fresh air in” one might refer to a review of policy or reflection upon the status quo.

And, just as in the story from the Acts of the Apostles, not everyone will be happy with a breath of fresh air and would like the windows kept firmly shut, thank you very much.    It would have been easy for those content with their staleness and happy in their rut to dismiss the Apostles as having had too much wine or as just plain mad.    These lifeless, grey people are everywhere, stamping out inspiration and nailing any creativity to the cross of useless paradigms.

The Holy Spirit drives us forward in our progression towards are the culmination of the life’s project – fullness of perfection in God.    Sometimes, this requires us to follow rather than lead and to put our faith in a different sort of Advocate.   But, with faith in God’s Holy Spirit, we will be never left in the dark and always kept in their shelter of God’s wings.

 

PENTECOST SUNDAY!

A reading from ‘The Office of the Passion’, by Saint Francis.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth, chant a psalm to his name
give glory to his praise.
Say to God: How awesome are your works, 0 Lord,
your enemies shall fawn upon you in the greatness of your strength.
Let all the earth adore you and sing a psalm to you,
let us chant a psalm to your name.
Come, listen, and I will tell you, all you who fear God,
how much he has done for my soul. I cried with my mouth to him
and I have exulted with my tongue. From his holy temple, he heard my voice and my cry reached his ears.
Bless our Lord, you peoples,
make the voice of his praise heard.
May all the tribes of the Lord be blessed in him and all nations will glorify him.
Blessd be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does great wonders.
Blessd forever be the name of his majesty,
and may all the earth be filled with his majesty.
Sobeit. Sobeit.

Monday, 20th May.

A reading from ‘The Life of Saint Francis’, by Thomas of Celano.

Francis was extremely determined and paid no attention to anything beyond what was of the Lord. Though he often preached the word of God among thousands of people, he was as confident as if he were speaking with a close friend. He used to view the largest crowd of people as if it were a single person, and he would preach fervently to a single person as if to a large crowd. Out of the purity of his mind he drew his confidence in preaching and, even without preparation, he used to say the most amazing things to everyone. Sometimes he prepared for his talk with some meditation, but once the people gathered he could not remember what he had meditated about and had nothing to say. Without any embarrassment, he would confess to the people that he had thought of many things before, but now he could not remember a thing. Sometimes he would be filled with such great eloquence that he moved the hearts of his hearers to astonishment. When he could not think of anything, he would give a blessing and send the people away, with this act alone as a very good sermon.

Lord, we do not need to be filled with knowledge to be eloquent preachers of your Word.  Send your Holy Spirit into the hearts of all preachers that they may be inspired to live the words they proclaim and offer blessing before they offer curse.  Amen.

 

Tuesday, 21st May.

A reading from ‘The Life of Saint Francis’, by Thomas of Celano.
Once, blessed Francis came to the city of Rome on a matter concerning the Order, and he greatly yearned to speak before the Lord Pope Honorius and the venerable Cardinals. Lord Hugo, the renowned Bishop of Ostia, venerated the holy man of God with special affection. When he learned of his arrival, Lord Hugo was filled with fear and joy, admiring the holy man’s fervour yet aware of his simple purity. Trusting to the mercy of the Almighty, that never fails the faithful in time of need, he led the holy man before the Lord Pope and the venerable Cardinals.  As he stood in the presence of so many princes of the Church, blessed Francis, after receiving permission and a blessing, fearlessly began to speak.

He was speaking with such fire of spirit
that he could not contain himself for joy.
As he brought forth the word from his mouth,
he moved his feet as if dancing,
not playfully but burning with the fire of divine love,
not provoking laughter but moving them to tears of sorrow.
For many of them were touched in their hearts,
amazed at the grace of God
and the great determination of the man.

Lord, may we speak fearlessly in those moments when courage is needed.  Send your Holy Spirit to enable us to use our voice to name injustice and to be a conscience for the Church.  Amen.

 

Wednesday, 22nd May.

A reading from ‘The Life of Saint Francis’, by Thomas of Celano.

The blessed father Francis was travelling through the Spoleto valley. He reached a place near Bevagna, in which a great multitude of birds of different types gathered, including doves, crows, and others commonly called monaclae. When Francis, the most blessed servant of God, saw them, he ran swiftly towards them, leaving his companions on the road. He was a man of great fervour, feeling much sweetness and tenderness even towards lesser, irrational creatures. When he was already very close, seeing that they awaited him, he greeted them in his usual way. He was quite surprised, however, because the birds did not take flight, as they usually do. Filled with great joy, he humbly requested that they listen to the word of God.  Among many other things, he said to them, ‘My brother birds, you should greatly praise your Creator, and love him always. He gave you feathers to wear, wings to fly, and whatever you need. God made you noble among his creatures and gave you a home in the purity of the air, so that, though you neither sow nor reap, he nevertheless protects and governs you without your least care.’ He himself, and those brothers who were with him, used to say that, at these words, the birds rejoiced in a wonderful way according to their nature. They stretched their necks, spread their wings, opened their beaks and looked at him. He passed through their midst, coming and going, touching their heads and bodies with his tunic. Then he blessed them and, having made the sign of the cross, gave them permission to fly off to another place. The blessed father, however, went with his companions along their way rejoicing and giving thanks to God.

Lord, all of creation gives praise to you.   Send your Holy Spirit to give us the simplicity to preach among the very birds of the air and within your created world, rejoicing in the beauty you have given to us.  Amen.

 

Thursday, 23rd May

A reading from ‘Five Feasts of the Child Jesus’, by Saint Bonaventure.

What is happening here? It is nothing other than the heavenly Father impregnating the soul, as it were, and making it fruitful by a divine seed. The power of the Most High comes upon the soul and overshadows it with a heavenly coolness, which tempers the desires of the flesh and gives help and strength to the eyes and to the spirit.
It is a joyous conception which leads to such contempt of the world and to such longing for heavenly works and the things of God. No matter how fleetingly up to this point, even in the midst of distress, the things of the Spirit have been tasted, the things of the flesh lose their savour.  Now, with Mary, the soul begins to climb the hill country because, after this conception, earthly things lose their attraction, and the soul longs for heavenly and eternal things. The soul begins to flee the company of those with minds set on earthly things and desires the friendship of those with hearts set on heavenly things. It begins to take care of Elizabeth, that is, to look to those who are enlightened by divine wisdom and ardently inflamed by love.  The faithful soul should consider well how pure, holy and devout was the conversation of the two saints, how godly and salutary their counsel, how admirable their holiness, and all they achieved to their mutual benefit, as they inspired one another by word and example towards greater virtue.  If you recognize that you have conceived God’s most dear Son by a sacred resolve to strive for perfection, then like a woman in labour, hasten with desire and longing towards a happy delivery.

Lord, may we bring to birth something great to benefit the nations.   Send your Holy Spirit to help us to be creative and generative in our lives and ministries.  Amen.

Friday, 24th May – OUR LAD HELP OF CHRISTIANS.

The feast day to Mary Help of Christians has been celebrated in Australia since 1844 but the history to this day dates back to the start of the 1800’s.

Napoleon Bonaparte had jailed Pius VI who died in jail. When Pope Pius VII was elected he too was jailed by Bonaparte, who kept him prisoner at Fontainbleau.

The Holy Father vowed to God that if he were restored to the Roman See, he would institute a special feast in honour of Mary.

The military eventually forced Bonaparte to release the Pope and on 24 May 1814, Pius VII returned in triumph to Rome.

Twelve months later the Pope decreed that the feast of Mary Help of Christians be kept on 24 May.

The infant church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. No priests were sent to the colony in its early days and Mass was not allowed except for one brief year until 1820. It was largely the Rosary in those early days that kept the faith alive.

Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary and was the first nation to choose her under the title Help of Christians, as principal Patroness.

 

A reading from ‘The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul’, by Thomas of Celano.
Although the evangelist Francis preached to the simple, in simple, concrete terms, since he knew that virtue is more necessary than words, still, when he was among spiritual people with greater abilities he gave birth to life-giving and profound words.  With few words he would suggest what was inexpressible and, weaving movement with fiery gestures, he carried away all his hearers towards the things of heaven. He did not use the keys of distinctions, for he did not preach about things he had not himself discovered.  Christ, true Power and Wisdom, made his voice a voice of power. A physician, a learned and eloquent man, once said, ‘I remember the sermons of other preachers word for word, only what the saint, Francis, says eludes me. Even if I memorize some of his words, they do not seem to me like those that originally poured from his lips.’

Almighty God, deepen in our hearts
our love of Mary Help of Christians.
Through her prayers and under her protection,
may the light of Christ shine over our land.
May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.
Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens.
Bless especially the men and women
of the Australian Defence Force and their families.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.

 

 

Saturday, 24th May.

A reading from ‘The Legend of Saint Clare’.

Clare provided for her children, through dedicated preachers, the nourishment of the Word of God and from this she did not take a poorer portion. She was filled with such rejoicing at hearing a holy sermon; she delighted at such a remembrance of her Jesus that, once, when Brother Philip of Atri was preaching, a very splendid child stood by the Virgin Clare and during the greater part of the sermon delighted her with his sighs of joy. That sister who merited to see such a thing in her mother experienced an indescribable sweetness from the sight of this apparition.  Although she was not educated in the liberal arts, she nevertheless enjoyed listening to the sermons of those who were, because she believed that a nucleus lay hidden in the text that she would subtly perceive and enjoy with relish. She knew what to take out of the sermon of any preacher that might be profitable to the soul, while knowing that to pluck a flower from a wild thorn was no less prudent than to eat the fruit of a noble tree.  Once when Lord Pope Gregory forbade any brother to go to the monasteries of the Ladies without permission, the pious mother, sorrowing that her sisters would more rarely have the food of sacred teaching, sighed, ‘Let him now take away from us all the brothers since he has taken away those who provide us with the food that is vital.’

Lord, you send prophets in disguise.   Send the Holy Spirit to help us discern your wisdom people today so that we may learn from them and welcome them as your true ministers.  Amen.

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Bro Matt is in Sydney for the next few weeks!