On this Solemnity of Pentecost, we conclude the Season of Easter. As we reflect upon the descent of the Holy Spirit, I would like to use the example of St. John Paul II, and his first pilgrimage to Poland.
When St. John Paul II made his first pilgrimage to Poland in 1979, he went during the Easter season. The Pope concluded one of his most famous homilies with the words: “Let your Spirit descend. Let your Spirit descend. And renew the face of the earth,
the face of this land” (St. John Paul II, homily, Victory square, Warsaw, Poland, June 2, 1979. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/1979/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19790602_polonia-varsavia.html ). Today, on the Solemnity of Pentecost, we can join our cry to his, as we too pray, Let your Spirit descend on this land, our land.
In 1979, Poland was in the throes of deep Communism. People couldn’t say what they really thought, they could not voice their minds on important social, political, and religious ideas. If you did not toe the line, you risked losing your job, your home, your place in school. Priests, such as Bl. Jerzy Popiełuszko were martyred for speaking against the ideology of Communism. The Catholic Church was oppressed. The Pope came to his own country, gathered throngs of people, and asked that the Holy Spirit descend upon this land, his own homeland. He reminded those listening to him that “man cannot be fully understood without Christ. Or rather, man is incapable of understanding himself fully without Christ. He cannot understand who he is, nor what his true dignity is, nor what his vocation is, nor what his final end is. He cannot understand any of this without Christ” (St. John Paul II, homily, Victory square, Warsaw, Poland, June 2, 1979. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/1979/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19790602_polonia-varsavia.html ). In other words, we cannot understand where we came from, who we are, and where we are going, without reference to Jesus Christ. We cannot get to know who we are in our deepest being, without calling on Our Lord, Jesus. Let us remember these words especially when people come to us with fears and anxieties. Let us gently steer them towards Christ.
In today’s Gospel, we heard of Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on his disciples. The Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son. He strengthens weak hearts and hands, He heals our anxieties, He casts out the spirit of fear and worries. The Holy Spirit does not force His way into our hearts. He waits for our permission, so that He can come with His divine presence. And as St. Paul says in the second reading, “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” When we come to Christ, we get a whole “package”: we also allow the Father and the Spirit to come to us, and dwell in us. God is so generous, that He gives us not one, not two, but three Divine Persons, so that They can keep us company. This means that really, we are never alone.
We know that Mary, the Mother of God, prayed and waited with the Apostles as they expected to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Blessed Virgin Mary summons us to come to Jesus, so that we can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who descends from Father and the Son.
As we observe the Solemnity of Pentecost, we call, along with St. John Paul II: “Let your Spirit descend. And renew the face of the earth, the face of this land.” We call upon the Holy Spirit to come and indwell our hearts, our minds, our bodies. With His assistance, we can courageously and charitably proclaim that “Jesus is Lord.” With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can come closer to the Father.
Today, we observe a very special commemoration. It is Fr. Mevin Coulas’ 60th anniversary of priestly ordination. Fr. Mervin was ordained at St. Hedwig’s on May 29, 1963. He served as associate pastor and pastor in many parishes of the Diocese of Pembroke, including St. Lawrence O’Toole, St. Casimir’s in Round Lake, and Our Lady of Fatima in Renfrew. For many years, held the post of diocesan vocations director. Fr. Mervin is noted for his great sense of humour, and his dedication to the priestly ministry. His smile brings joy to many people around him. May his example bring other men to follow the path of priestly ministry. Fr. Mervin exercises his priestly ministry even in retirement, and is active on diocesan boards and commissions. Even his ordination anniversary card shows that Fr. Mervin is still deeply concerned with vocations to the priesthood, and wishes to promote them. Fr. Mervin, may Christ, the Good Shepherd, reward you for these 60 years of service.
(Fr. Paweł Ratajczak, OMI, May 28, 2023)