Come, Holy Spirit!

05-27-2018Pastoral ReflectionsRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Our theological belief and concept of the Trinity, or more plainly God, is confusing and distracting to many people. Folks try to think about the meaning of Trinity, but quite quickly, if they are religious and catholic just call it a "mystery." We do say that the Trinity is a mystery, meaning something quite holy and beyond total comprehension and understanding, but this "mystery" is really an important part of our lives. Clearly the idea of trinity delves into the world of relationships, which we all know are often hard to understand, frequently confusing or frustrating and many times just plain old bewildering. Indeed understanding God is often the same! Today's Feast and its scripture helps us to celebrate that unique holy relationship, that mysterious relationship, and invites us to join in.

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One in the Spirit of Unity

05-20-2018Pastoral ReflectionsRev. Brian F. Manning

There is no way that we are able to contain the Holy Spirit. This Spirit is much larger thanus, or our minds or imaginations. In John’s Gospel, the Holy Spirit comes on the very first evening of Easter, Easter Sunday night. In this version the Spirit is a commissioning Holy Spirit, apeace-bearing, forgiving Spirit, quiet but powerful. We all know the larger story of how the firstChristian Pentecost began in great fear and ended in ecstatic joy. However, we realize that the reality of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, has not yet ended because we now in this momentof today, and every moment, live in the time of this powerful Spirit.

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Love

05-13-2018Pastoral ReflectionsRev. Brian F. Manning

Christians of all faith traditions spend a lot of time talking about love. Our tradition often seems to be one that can win first prize in the talking department about love. This very small word carries a lot of responsibility for its size. We use this word in all sorts of contexts with all sorts of meaning. The word love invites equivocation. From loving a person, to loving a color, or loving a book or even loving oneself we use the word love. The word love has many meanings and very many nuanced understandings of the word. However, in the Christian context and in the Catholic Way of Life as disciples of Jesus on mission, love is for us a powerful and demanding word. And, more importantly, we need our four Gospels to help us understand its deepest meaning and how to live that meaning out in our lives.

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The Manifestation of God's Abiding Love

05-06-2018Pastoral ReflectionsRev. Brian F. Manning

Christians of all faith traditions spend a lot of time talking about love. Our tradition often seems to be one that can win first prize in the talking department about love. This very small word carries a lot of responsibility for its size. We use this word in all sorts of contexts with all sorts of meaning. The word love invites equivocation. From loving a person, to loving a color, or loving a book or even loving oneself we use the word love. The word love has many meanings and very many nuanced understandings of the word. However, in the Christian context and in the Catholic Way of Life as disciples of Jesus on mission, love is for us a powerful and demanding word. And, more importantly, we need our four Gospels to help us understand its deepest meaning and how to live that meaning out in our lives.

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