St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

Along with this wonderful “secular” hol-i-day, the world-wide Catholic Church remembers today’s Solemnity of Pentecost, the outpouring of God’s Spirit on the disciples, after the resurrection of the Lord. Pentecost or the feast of weeks was a Jewish festival, celebrating the firstfruits of the harvest (Deut. 16.9). This feast of weeks occurred 50 days after Passover. The disciples had experienced the presence of the Spirit already, when the Risen Lord breathed his life into their lives. But until the Risen Lord left them (at the Ascension), the gathered disciples depended on the physical presence of their Lord, for everything.

After the Risen Lord left this earth, the disciples were gathered together at the festival of first-fruits, along with Mary and some of the women that had supported the ministry of Jesus. In prayer, the gathered assembly (church) experienced the anointing of the Lord’s power, as new life was breathed onto them by the strong wind of the Spirit. The Church of Christ became a visible Body, and we of St. John Neumann are members of this Body of Christ.

How then, are we to honor these separate feasts? Let us turn to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (965): after her Son’s Ascension, Mary aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers. In her association with the apostles and several women, we also see Mary by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit… Mary, the Mother of Christ, the Mother of the Church (CCC, 963).

Mary is the mother of the Son of God. In this gift of grace, she is also the mother of the Body of her Son, the Church of Christ, born fully at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit that rained down the fire of love at Pentecost had overshadowed Mary years before, at the Annunciation.

Today, look to your mom. Whether at her side or by way of the telephone or in memory, rejoice in the gift of your mom. And as you remember this gift of God to you, remember that Jesus likewise had a mom. And because he loves us so, and because she followed her Son’s will in everything, she has become our mom. And we know this through the indwelling power and presence of God’s Spirit, given at Pentecost… a festival of “first-fruits”! Mother’s Day and Pentecost, it’s all about the gifts of God, and our gratitude.

AMDG

Msgr. David Talley

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