Come, Holy Spirit

        In the gospel on the feast of the Ascension, Jesus asks the disciples why they are standing there looking upward? He tells them that they are to quit standing around and do something. When they ask how they will be able to do something he says that the Holy Spirit will guide them. In their usual doltish fashion they tell him that they don’t even know the spirit. He must have rolled his eyes and thought, “What am I going to do with these people?”

        In this week between Ascension and Pentecost we too are trying to learn more about the Holy Spirit. We pray for the gifts of the Spirit—wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord (or wonder). In every age these are gifts that we need to bring our Christian life’s message to our world.

         With the many needs of our world it is easy to see that wisdom knowledge and understanding would be a good start to heal the divisions among individuals and nations. Counsel and fortitude would give us the strength to stand for those who have no voice. Piety and wonder would enhance our prayer and gratitude to God for the beauty of the world around us.

         So, let us pray with sincere hearts, that the Spirit will shower us with the gifts we need in our corner of the world, so that we will not be standing around but will do something as Jesus asks.

Sister Nancy Kordenbrock, OSB