Little five-year-old Johnny swallowed a quarter.
Mom said to the dad, “Quick called the paramedics,
Johnny swallowed a quarter.”
And dad said, “I’m gonna give our Pastor a call.
He can get the money outta anybody.”
[Laughter]
I like that one.
Pentecost is that Feast that celebrates the day
In our Church’s history when unity and courage
Triumphs over fear, division, and feeling lost.
What do we mean by the Holy Spirit?
The best definition is this.
The Holy Spirit is a mysterious, active presence of God
Within each one of us.
The Holy Spirit is a mysterious, active presence of God
Within each one of us.
The Lord is with us.
God bends to touch us first.
God runs after us.
The Holy Spirit whom Jesus had promised
To send to His disciples, descended upon them on Pentecost
And transformed them.
But changed them into what?
This confused and fearful group was changed
Into a courageous body of Christian believers.
They believed again after doubting.
They hoped again after despairing.
They loved again after faltering.
You know, we all of us, we live in very tough times.
Never quit, never ever give up.
The Spirit of the Lord is with us
As our strength, hope, and courage.
May the Spirit of God lend us to the following three R’s.
Respect for self, respect for others,
And responsibility for all our actions.
The three important R’s.
Respect for self, respect for others,
And responsibility for all our actions.
Father James Keller, founder of the Christophers,
Makes this point:
It is better to be optimistic than pessimistic.
And speaking of negativity, some parishes ago,
A woman in my Parish, who was always, always,
Always negative, always complained,
Didn’t suffer from depression, always negative.
The phone rang with her, it was some complaint.
So one day it was the end of June, perfect Sunday,
75 degrees, no rain, no clouds, no wind, perfect Sunday day.
I said, if I see her at Mass,
I’m gonna get something positive from her today.
Sure enough, she was at Mass
At the beautiful end of June, Sunday day.
After Mass I saw her, I said, “Well, good morning.”
I said, “Isn’t today just a beautiful, perfect day?”
And she said, “They’re talking rain tomorrow.”
I almost died.
I said, “So at least I hope you own an umbrella.”
And I kind of walked away.
We know people who are always so negative,
Who are sometimes toxic.
Our attitude plays such an important point
And role in life, with the help and grace of God.
Please know Jesus loves us just the way we are.
And the Lord Jesus loves us too much to leave us that way.
That Jesus loves us just the way we are.
And the Lord Jesus loves us too much to leave us that way.
So with the help of God, and by the power of the Holy Spirit,
Find the greatness within you and live it.
Find the greatness within you and live it.
And always live for others.