Page 174 - spiritual_accompaniment_montreal_archdiocese

HOMILIES

As we are going through this pandemic, it’s an occasion not to waste. There are two sides. It
can put us down. It can also raise us up because it could be an occasion to rediscover some-
thing about life, about our life, about our family, about what we are really longing for. What
do you want? What do we want, what do you want out of your life? Is there in your heart, in
your soul, in your bones, in your flesh, a thirst so great that somehow, it hurts us to be thirsty?
It’s aching just to be thirsty because you cannot find peace, you cannot rest until you find an
answer to that thirst! Do you have an aching yearning? If you do, it’s a blessing. Because when
we have an aching yearning, we are serious in looking for an answer. An answer to the meaning
of our life. An answer to our quest for love. And we do not postpone to tomorrow, I’ll do it
tomorrow, like many things in life. Tomorrow I will look for a meaning to my life. No, not
tomorrow! Today! I’m aching too much. I am looking for meaning to my life today.

When we feel a burning desire to search for meaning in our life, we are faced with discovering
why we exist or for what purpose we are here. We are also faced with the longing of our heart,
the longing for real love, an authentic love that transcends time, a love that endures through
struggles, weaknesses and fragilities.

Thirst takes many forms, but one of them is certainly a thirst for an abiding life. We often
speak of sustainable development, so we could say that it is a thirst for a sustainable life, an
enduring life, as in a love that is everlasting! A love that is always greater! There is a thirst for
a love that is true and authentic!

Listen to Jesus’ cry: “Who is thirsty? Who is thirsty for life? Who is thirsty for love? Let them
come to me, and I will quench their thirst.”

“If you are aching, yearning for life, for love, come to me! I will answer your quest.” But the
gift of God is always a strange gift! Because the gift of God, is the gift of His love. This thirst,
this is the first thirst to receive. To receive life, to receive eternal life. To receive love, to
receive the love that comes from God! Infinite love! But at the same time, as God through the
Holy Spirit gives us His love through Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected, He gives us His
love. But at the same time, He brings with the gift of His love, another thirst.

We thirst for the love of God, we thirst to receive his life, a life that lasts, the eternal life, we
thirst to receive the Holy Spirit. When we pray to God by naming of the Holy Spirit, we are
praying equally in the name of the Father and of the Son.

What is then the correct name of the Holy Spirit? The name of the Holy Spirit is Love! The
Holy Spirit is the love issued forth by the Father and the Son.

(cont’d)

Collection of texts by the Most Rev. Christian Lépine 174