Pentecost is a wild scene. The Apostles are in the upper room praying because Jesus told them to wait until the outpouring of the Advocate, the One whom He would send. Then, all at once, tongues of fire rest on the Apostles and they run from that room, proclaiming Jesus Christ and converting people from all over the known world. 

One thing I love about being Catholic is that we have 2,000 years of tradition to help us understand the Bible, the world, and our lives. So when we think of something like Pentecost and wonder what that means for us today, we don't have to just imagine, but we can use the wisdom of the years to help us understand. And you know what that wisdom has always taught, over and over again? The Power, the grace, the charism, the experience of the Apostles at Pentecost where the Holy Spirit did miraculous things which they could never have done on their own is not just a historical fact: it's meant to be lived out in your life and in mine. 

In the reading of the Acts of the Apostles today, we hear that the Apostles spoke in various tongues as the Apostles enabled. Brothers and sisters, all of the good works that the world around us needs to happen, the words that the people we love need to hear, and the persistence that we need to become the people we are created to be has been given to us in the Holy Spirit. The Lord our God does not hold back His Holy Spirit from us! No, He gives the Spirit in abundance, a Spirit which enables you and I to do and to become all that we've been created to do and to be. 

First and foremost, it is the Spirit which enables us to be sons and daughters of the Most High God. Do you experience that reality?

It is also the Spirit that allows us to love our families and friends. Do you allow the Spirit to work in your life and teach you to love?

God's Holy Spirit allows you and I to become the people we've been created to be and to fulfill the tasks given to you. Are you trusting in that Spirit and letting Him guide your daily life?

Whenever we try to bring God's love to the world, to preach the Gospel, it is the Spirit who works in us. Do you let the Spirit give you the words to share God's love?

Whatever the situation, the same Spirit poured out on the Apostles at Pentecost has been given to you and I. There is nothing more that we need. Let's go forward today in boldness, enabled by the Spirit to be the people we're created to be and to live in that reality. 

Happy Pentecost! Come, Holy Spirit!

How well do you allow the Holy Spirit to guide your daily life? In what ways have you noticed the Spirit working in your life?

How can you grow in your ability to ask the Holy Spirit for help, for guidance, and for aid? 

How can you today live in the boldness and trust that the Spirit enables you to live? 

"Come, Holy Spirit."

"I trust in You."

​"Enable me to live in Your love."

Take some time today to intercede for the Holy Spirit to work in your life and the life of those around in ways that you need Him. Maybe it's a conversation you'll have this week, or a situation you aren't sure how to deal with. Maybe you want to share the Gospel with someone and you need help. Whatever it is, pray intentionally for the Holy Spirit to enable you to be who you've been created to be in that situation and then trust that He will be with you.

Peter was just told that he will die, but Jesus invited him to follow Him anyways. A hard truth, but something Peter was willing to accept. Then, for some reason, he asked about John, the beloved disciple. An odd question, and Jesus only half answers it saying that it doesn't matter, even if He decides that John will never die. Obviously John did die, but he was the only Apostle to not be martyred, or be killed for his faith. He died a natural death. 

So why does this matter? Why did it matter to Peter?

As soon as I read this passage I thought about all the times I cared about other people's future out of jealousy and comparison. I thought about the ways I would obsess about how someone else had a "better future" ahead of them then I did. I thought about how ridiculous that really is, but how often it happens. And I know we all do it.

If we want to be true disciples, true Christians, we must simply desire the good of our brothers and sisters, regardless of how it compares to us. We should want others to have the best future possible and help them achieve that! There is no greater thing we can do on this earth than to love authentically. There is no room for this type of jealousy in authentic love. So stop comparing and worrying about your future and especially someone else's, and just love them today.

In what ways do you find yourself comparing yourself to others? Does this ever lead to jealousy?

Do you ever obsess over someone else's future? Why do you think that is so?

How can you love someone more instead of always comparing?

"Jesus I trust in You."

"I love you, Lord"

"Come Holy Spirit."

Pray the litany of humility today. And if you find yourself comparing yourself to someone, pray for them instead.

Click here for the litany of humility.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven. 

When I opened Facebook this past weekend, I was shocked to see that a Catholic acquaintance had died. 

He was a religious brother in Washington, D.C., and only 31 years old. And while I didn’t know him well, my few encounters with Brother Saul had a profound impact on me. He was so full of life, love and jokes -- all while giving himself to the Lord, and to everyone around him. 

Hearing of his death hit me hard. How could this young man, one so selflessly devoting his time, his work, his life to the Lord, be gone so soon? 

Today’s responsorial psalm is a reminder that God’s kingdom is “high above the earth,” and that the one we are shooting for. 

In today’s modern and face-paced world, finding hope at times can be overwhelming. Negative news constantly bombards us, unless we make a conscious choice to turn it off. Neighbors seem further than ever before. We probably hear a story of drugs, shootings, racism, hatred, death every single day. The world seems a mess. 

And maybe it is. 

But this is not our home where we still stay. This is not our final destination. 

The Lord has a kingdom waiting for us in heaven -- and it’s greater than we can ever imagine. 

Our job is to live the best we can on this messy place on earth, that when it’s our time to enter the pearly gates, we hear: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” 

The Lord has established his throne in heaven. 

Like Brother Saul, we should seek to give our time, our work, our lives to the Lord. To live with joy and show everyone around us love while making our way on the sometimes rocky journey of life. 

Our job is to live the best we can on this messy place called Earth, that when it’s our time to enter the pearly gates, we hear: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” 

The Lord has established his throne in heaven. 

So why do we keep looking to things of this earth to find our happiness and purpose? 

Where do you look for happiness? Are you searching for something in this world to fulfill you and make you happy? 

Do you find yourself depressed with the messiness of our world? Does it overwhelm you to think about how far most people are from the kingdom of God? How does your life help point them toward the kingdom of God?

Is your ultimate goal happiness on earth or happiness in Heaven? Are you living with heaven in mind? Do you take faith into account when making decisions both big and small?

"I am seeking Heaven."

"I trust in the hope of eternal life."

"I love you, Lord."

Think of one of the 'messes' or 'hurts' of this world that particularly troubles you. Think about how the joy of your faith can lead people toward Heaven in the midst of that mess or hurt. Where can you shine the light of Christ?

"​I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one."

Today's Gospel really touches my heart. It reminds me just how fiercely Christ loves us, how much He desires a relationship with us. Jesus has all this greatness He wants to give us; we just have to strive for it. He wants us to be great, to accept the love He has for us and to follow Him as a greatest friend and deepest love.

It also reminds me just how much I fail at this. I pray and ask for the graces to be patient, kind, gentle, and loving like Christ is and exemplifies in the Gospels. However, when the time comes to live out these graces and strive for virtue, I let myself fail. I let myself get impatient and angry, even fester in my anger. That's not greatness. I'm pretty good at showing love to some, but it can be so difficult to show love to others. 

This Gospel reminds me to keep trying. I need to keep opening my heart to Jesus, letting Him unite my heart with His. I need Christ in me, I need to ask and seek and strive to be one with Him. We all want to be brought to perfection, no one wants a decent life. Christ has this greatness ready to go for us. What I need, and I'm sure we all need, is to keep persevering in prayer so that Christ can work in and through me. 

Please pray for me and know that I am praying for you. We are all one in Christ and I desire your holiness too. Let us all, as one, open ourselves anew to Christ and accept the greatness He has in store for us. 

What is getting in the way of your greatness, of opening your heart to Christ? 

What are some situations you can think of that are an opportunity to accept grace and grow in virtue?

How open is your heart to Christ? How can you be even more united with Him? 

"I want You."

"I need Your help."

​"Have mercy on me."

Today, address that thing that is keeping you from greatness. It could be a person you aren't nice to, some sin that you keep falling into, or even laziness in prayer. Whatever it is, address it and overcome it through grace. Ask God for His help and act on it. Open your heart to Christ and live virtuously.