|
From the Associate&
Happy Anniversary
Admittedly, in my youth, I sometimes thought that celebrations of anniversaries, for example wedding anniversaries, were a little sappy, and at times overdone. Of course, I didn't have an anniversary of my own to compare it with. But I was wrong. Last week was my first opportunity to experience an anniversary in my own life: namely, me ordination to the priesthood on May 29, 1999. As I sat in the pews of the Cathedral Church during this years ordination ceremony, my heart welled up with gratitude and joy, experiencing the beauty of this moment: 8 men offering their lives to God, for His glory and the pastoral service of God's people, as priests. I remembered the grace experience I enjoy ed just one year ago, where in the sanctuary, I felt the love of God outpoured powerfully, through the Archbishop, through the people of God, and through the sacrament. At this time, I had experienced tremendous joy and in my nature, a kind of fittingness with the vocation. This year I was so grateful to God, that I could be a priest. I felt sorry for a couple of individuals, young priests, who have recently decided to leave the priesthood, that on this day, they would not know the tremendous joy, beauty and spiritual love offered by God to priests, through the gift of ordination. I am glad to have finished one year (ok, many of you old timers can chuckle, having been married for 30, 40 or even 50 years). I told the Archbishop last week, that the priesthood just keeps getting better, and in large measure I would have to say that is because of loved shared with you, the people of St. John's. I thank you for patiently giving me the space to grow and improve as a priest. I'm still doing that.
Having gained a greater appreciation for the significance and gift of anniversaries, I turn to the subject of Pentecost. The word connotes the number 50, that is, the feast, which is celebrated (for Christians) 50 days after Easter. The Jews celebrate the Feast of Weeks at this time (50 days after Passover), wherein they tithe the first fruits of their harvest, to God (cf. Deut 16:9). But for Christians, it is the Feast of Pentecost, which is the moment when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1) in the upper room. They all began to speak in tongues, such that foreigners from many differing nations could understand them. We speak of this event as the dawning or birthday of the Church. It is therefore appropriate to regard today's liturgical celebration as an anniversary. Today, we are all invited to enjoy with gratitude the gift of God's covenant with His people& the gift of the Apostolic Tradition& the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in our hearts. Happy Anniversary!
-- Fr. Michael
|
|
