Pentecost

Our readings for Pentecost Sunday:

1. Acts 2: 1-11
2. Psalms 104: 1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
3. Galatians 5: 16-25 (two options here)
4. John 20: 19-23 (two options here)

1. Now is the time
• Have you ever had to wait for unseen/unknown events, attitudes, your own heart to mature before you moved on something?
• How did you know that the time was ripe to make a change?
• How can we learn to tell such opportunities better?
2. Breath in all
• Do you think that the Spirit is present in all of creation?
• How does that Presence manifest itself?
• How does that Presence benefit us?
• How can we honor that Presence?
3. Bearing fruit
• If there existed an authoritative catalog of every known sin, would you read it?
• What would be your reaction if you found a sin or two in there that surprised you?
• Failing that, how do you develop your conscience, and draw closer to God?
4. We have nothing to fear but fear itself
• Do you think that the arrival of the Spirit removed all fear for those early disciples?
• Think of people in your life who exhibited real courage.  What was that courage founded on?  Was it the sure expectation that everything would turn out the way that they expected, or something deeper?
• How would you define bravery?
• Do we need to be brave?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. How am I intentionally listening for God's direction in my life?
2. What am I doing to achieve gladness in the Lord?
3. What are some things in my life that tend to separate me from the love of God?  What am I doing about those?
4. When was the last time that I visited my Confirmation and consciously appropriated those graces?

Brave Heart

The true cause of burnout is not overwork,
Nor chronic stress,
But rather, lack of passion.

Passion is not something that we can "whip up"
As if it comes as the reward for hard work.
Rather passion comes from alignment.

A gentle settling in to who we really are,
Like a goose, after waddling toward the shore,
Floats in its welcome element, and finds peace there.

The gifts of the Spirit are not so much talents,
As they are names by which we call callings.
And it is our calling to find our calling.

Humans are the only creatures
Who can get confused regarding their identity.

Come Holy Spirit come
Show me the way to be Your Presence

Help me to find peace in your service
And passion in your embrace.

Shalom!