This coming Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and our Blessed Mother Mary. Filled now with the Spirit those gathered in the Upper Room became missionaries; in the Acts of the Apostles we hear Saint Peter’s words to those who “heard the sound” and had assembled around Peter and the Eleven. We see what a changed man St. Peter has become. He who had denied Jesus only a few weeks earlier is now boldly preaching to those gathered. Pentecost, however, is not a one time event only for those in the Upper Room two centuries back. Pentecost is continually new, happening every time we need to be guided forward, every time we need to pursue new avenues not yet open to us. How we receive the Holy Spirit now is the same as how Saint Peter and the Eleven had been able to receive the Spirit—docility. Earlier this month Pope Francis during a homily asked us not to resist the Holy Spirit but to welcome God’s word with docility. He then went on to list 3 steps to docility—have a welcoming or open heart; to come to know the Word, to know Jesus; and to become familiar with the Word, to read and understand it. By being docile - from the root word docere, meaning “to teach” - we will receive the fruits of the Spirit and be able to do things we hadn’t thought we would or could be able to do.
In our last 7th grade essay on mercy William shows how he was docile to the Spirit, responding to situations with a different heart, open to being taught new ways.
Mercy Essay
by William
As Catholics we believe in showing mercy to one another, and I was assigned to do just that. I did it in a few ways to a few people; I showed mercy to those who hd wronged me, and to those who had hurt me or upset me.
An example of me showing mercy to someone who had wronged me was when my little brother destroyed something of mine that I loved and cherished very much. He had smashed it in half. Yet, instead of getting mad, I said, “I forgive you.”
An example of me showing mercy to those who had hurt me is when my friend told me I wouldn’t be good at doing martial arts because I was too large. At first I was really upset. Then I prayed to God to help me forgive him, and I did.
An example of someone who had upset me was when my older brother kept insulting me over and over again. It had really upset me, but God helped me overcome my anger.
God has always helped me to forgive those who have wronged me.
Our parish is offering a no cost evening Bible study during the summer. Tuesday evenings in June, and again in August, walk through the Bible with Jessie Del Rio from 7:00-8:30p in room 7. Mr. Del Rio is a graduate of Loyola Marymount’s Bible Institute and offered a well attended Bible class earlier this year. June’s focus will be an overview of the Old Testament, especially the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), while in August he will focus on the New Testament, giving an overview of a Catholic approach to Sacred Scripture. Bibles will be available, or bring your own if you are like me and make notes as you read and study.
It’s not too late to join the June Parish Renewal Weekend this Friday evening – Sunday morning. If this is too late notice there will be another Renewal Weekend the first weekend in September. Please contact Deacon Steve Serembe at 909 793 2469.
Cinema for the Soul will be showing The Shack on Thursday, June 22nd. A family tragedy causes a man to fall into a deep depression questioning his deepest beliefs. See how his life is forever changed when he encounters some people in an abandoned shack, finding truths that bring new understanding to the terrible events of his life. Come join from 7:00-9:00p in the upper room of the parish hall.
Thank you. Mrs. Alhadef