Page 182 - accompagnement_spirituel_archdiocese_de_montreal

HOMÉLIES

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Somehow through this pandemic, we went through it together! As a humanity, brothers and
sisters in humanity; as Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ; as Catholics, members of the
Catholic Church, of the Body of Christ. We’ve taken the time to pray, maybe taken the time to say
to God our sorrow, taken the time to reach out to others who might be alone or isolated. Taken
the time to share in our family, maybe more than usual. Somehow, mysteriously we received a lot
during this pandemic! Through difficulties, but we received a lot. A bit like the Apostles and the
Disciples of Jesus Christ, they received a lot during the week of the Passion, it was not easy. They
received a lot during the Resurrection, there were moment of joy! But at the same time as they
were receiving a lot, they were preparing themselves, Jesus Christ was preparing them to proclaim
the Good News of Salvation.

And so maybe we can be thinking ahead and prepare ourselves for the feast of the Pentecost. So,
with a Novena, nine days of prayer starting this coming Friday, nine days of prayer to renew our
openness to the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit is the gift, the supreme gift of the Father and
the Son. The Father and the Son give us the Holy Spirit who is life, who is unity, who unites us
with Jesus Christ, who unites us between each other through Jesus Christ. Who unites us to the
Father through the grace of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is a spirit of unity, is a spirit of Mission,
who gives us the courage, the strength to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ in the public square
where we know it is not easy! I call this the last ‘taboo’. On the public square, you cannot name
Jesus Christ. You cannot say the name of God. It’s the last taboo.

We learn. Maybe we need courage. The courage to say the name of God, to say the name of Jesus
Christ. Not only in our personal life, in our own community, but also in the public square. And
this doesn’t come alone.

The Apostles as they were, the consequences of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They
met Jesus Christ personally as a group of disciples, but they were afraid, they were hiding in their
homes. And Jesus Christ invited them to pray, waiting for the gift of the Holy Spirit. And Mary
was with them, praying for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And so, that’s what we can do! We can take the time, more consciously, more intentionally, to pray
for the gift of the Holy Spirit, to pray for the renewal of the gift of the Holy Spirit with a Novena,
with Mary. Pray with Mary to be more open to the gift of the Holy Spirit. A spirit of mission that
will bring us to be more forthright in naming Jesus Christ! More forthright in keeping the doors of
our churches open all day long! Not only for the times of celebrations, which are very important!
But it is not enough. It is not enough. We need to learn to be open all day long. All year long.

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