Sunday, May 31, 2009

Secret to businesses, schools, and the Christian witness

You hear it at every school faculty workshop in August - before the students arrive.

You hear it when businesses gather for goal-setting meetings and staffing workshops.

Husbands and wives talk about it when they are raising their families.


We need to be on the same page and be giving a clear message.



Today's reading at Mass is essentially saying the same thing. It is one of the coolest miracles of all time. It cannot be explained away. People from every language gather in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit comes. The Apostles begin preaching - but the people all hear in their native tongue. Everyone understands perfectly. Language is no barrier.


If you've ever tried to learn a foreign language (Spanish was mine) you know human limitations. Even a multi-lingual person might only speak four or five languages. Certainly, this was not a work of human intelligence. This was a work of the Holy Spirit who wanted Our Lord's disciples to be on the same page, clearly delivering the same message. God wants his people to be united in the faith, to be one body, to have one baptism, to be following one Lord of All.



Take another look at the reading from Acts of the Apostles - and think about how many languages were represented that day - all hearing with the same ears. Truly, one of the greatest miracles of all time!


Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’



Are you still not sure if it matters that we share the same faith with the world? Do you still think it is okay that there are over 33000 different Christian denominations? Of course it matters. Let's get on the same page, preach the Gospel with one unified voice.



Invite someone to RCIA this year and help them to hear with the unified ears - the teachings of 2000 years, the voice of the Magisterium, the Church, born on that Pentecost Day.



Happy Birthday, Catholic Church.

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