Holy Spirit Parish

Dear Holy Spirit Parish:

            “Jesus said to them,
                        Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes
                                    are entering the kingdom of God before you.”
                                                                                                                        (Matthew 21:31)

Can you imagine the fury in the hearts of those Pharisees and Sadducees!  They had committed their lives to being holy. And Jesus tells them that not only had they failed completely, but that those they believed were the worst of sinners, were entering the Kingdom before them.  And did you catch, Jesus doesn’t say the tax collectors and prostitutes “will” someday enter the Kingdom.  He said they “are” entering the Kingdom now.  Like the prodigal son who found himself in a banquet of love while his older brother stood out in the cold, the tax collectors and prostitutes were already experiencing the love and joy of God’s Kingdom.  It was enough to get Jesus crucified.

What did the tax collectors and prostitutes have that the Pharisees and Sadducees didn’t?  To borrow a word from Kristin Bird, our wonderful Spirit Night’s speaker, they had a spirit of Accompaniment. In a gathering of tax collectors and prostitutes no one feels themselves high enough to look down on someone else.  No one feels they have the right to judge another.  Each person believes that everyone else is just like them including having a desire for a better life.  In their circle of mutual respect and trust healing, growth and eventually joy appear.  They walk together in a spirit of accompaniment on life’s journey.

This weekend there are many people coming together to accompany one another on life’s spiritual journey.  Today (Sunday) those exploring the Catholic faith and the possibility of receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil gather for a first time.  We are thrilled that twelve people have expressed interest in coming.  In time we will learn who they are so we can better accompany them.  Between Masses this morning another group of travelers will gather to explore the Questions of Jesus. Our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will hold its first classes in the Atrium this morning as well.

Monday evening at 6:00pm will be the second gathering of Alpha.  Tuesday evening at 6:30pm will be the second gathering of a group seeking to deepen their conversion of heart through the video series Metanoia by Fr. Dave Pivonka.  Wednesday morning at 9:15am Brian and Lucy Peters are leading an 11-week study of Ancient Christianity.  The Thursday evening Bible Study led by Tim and Kathy Budelier is so well received it is maxing out their living room!  And Friday morning will be the fourth meeting of an introduction to each of the Gospels.  They will be starting Luke this week.  All of these small groups welcome new members, especially those who come in the spirit of accompaniment.  To learn more, go to the parish website, find the Faith Formation tab and click on the Adult Formation link.

Next Sunday will be the first of this year’s Inside Story series.  Rosan Zahn will share the inside story of her pilgrimage on the El Camino and how she became aware that she was not walking alone, but that Christ was accompanying her.  I am so grateful to the over 160 people who filled out a pledge card last weekend as sign of their commitment to grow spiritually this year through participating in at least one program faith formation.  And it was so heartwarming to see the whole parish rise to its feet and make the five pledges of our Membership Covenant: to Worship, to Grow, to Connect, to Serve and to Give.

It is in small groups like these that the miracle happens.  Trust grows, hearts are healed, and love begins to flow.  Not “someday”, Jesus said.  “Today”, tax collectors and prostitutes, those who walk in the spirit of accompaniment are entering the joy and peace of the Kingdom.

Fr. Steve








 

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