Scripture:
Reflection:
It was a chilly spring evening in 1958, and I processed into the church with my classmates to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This was quite different from my First Communion two years earlier: this night, we wore our sober dark blue school uniforms instead of pretty new white dresses. And to mark our more adult commitment to Jesus, we were told we would receive a ceremonial slap on the cheek (which we were assured wouldn’t hurt) from the bishop. The slap was to warn us that we would have opposition and hardships as a follower of Jesus.
I had a fever that night from a lingering cold, but I went anyway. In my ten-year-old mind, I was trying to live up to one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that the Sisters had explained to us: fortitude, also known as courage. As I walked into the Church, I prayed to be strong, as the bishop and the entire congregation prayed for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us fourth graders.
Like the bishop at my Confirmation, Jesus had a warning for his followers in today’s Gospel reading: “In the world you will have trouble.” (And we know they most certainly had trouble; most of them suffered martyrdom for their faith.) And then Jesus said to them: “Take courage.” ~John 16:33 Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows us the source of that courage: the Holy Spirit. Paul meets some disciples who have never heard of the Holy Spirit, and “when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them.” After that, they were able to praise and witness about the goodness of God. ~Acts 19:6
We, like the first disciples after the Ascension of Jesus, do not have Jesus here with us in the body; so, we need the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which we will celebrate this coming Pentecost Sunday. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit help us to stay connected to Jesus as mature disciples: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
In particular, we pray for the gift of fortitude. Fortitude empowers us to stand firm in the face of difficulties, trials, and persecution for the Gospel. Fortitude (Courage) enables us to overcome fear and persevere in speaking the truth and choosing the good, even when it is unpopular or countercultural. As Pentecost approaches, let us pray for this gift of the Holy Spirit for ourselves, our family and friends, our faith community, and the entire Church.
Patty Gillis is a retired Pastoral Minister. She serves on the Board of Directors at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan. Patty is currently a member of the Laudato Si’ Vision Fulfillment Team and the Passionist Solidarity Network.