Raising the Church
Gentle life-giving Spirit,
do now console
newly homeless
holy ones
plundered, sundered
by blind guides
valuing Temple treasure
over Christ’s Eucharistic Body.
Whitewashed tombs,
Jesus called them.
But still, bone of my bone,
flesh of my flesh,
indestructible yet sinful. Learning anew
Your church is
not a building
but a People, poured out
for the life of the world.
Destroy this Temple
and in three days,
I will raise it up.
Come Holy Spirit,
Raise up your People once again. (Christine Schenk, csj, Holy Saturday, 2008)
Today is Pentecost Sunday and I believe this poem brings forth the meaning of this important feast, that is, “Raising
the Church”!
The Holy Spirit is the very breath of the church. Take that Spirit away and the people are left to their own devices,
lacking direction, perhaps embracing a conviction but most likely not the conviction of Christ Jesus and the gospel.
The Spirit is beyond our control, and yet, is intimate touching every aspect our lives and the life of the church.
The risen Christ lives and acts here and now only through the Holy Spirit. Those trembling disciples could never
have preached a crucified Messiah successfully to the world without the Holy Spirit. The church would not have
continued through the ages if the Spirit had not been present to overcome the obscene wealth, sin, corruption,
and human shortcomings of its leaders and members. There is no sign of a recession, for this Holy Spirit works
day and night to correct our mistakes and raises us above the human perspective that is often limited, shortsighted,
and self centered.
Conversion of the heart is generated by the Spirit, as is sanctification and holiness. Ordinary water is living
water by invoking the Spirit at Baptism. Bread and wine, gifts of the people and work of human hands become the
body and blood of Christ “by the working of the Holy Spirit.”
This community of people under the patronage of St. Agnes would quickly disband if it were not for the Holy Spirit
dwelling among us. There would be little working together or any semblance of unity if we did not call upon the
Holy Spirit. St. Agnes Church community would not be on the verge of entering a new phase in its long history
if we were not attentive to the Holy Spirit forming us in faith, in hope, and in love.
The church is not a building, but rather, the church formed by this Holy Spirit is a house of living stones, your
life, my life, poured out for the life of the world. We are sinful, often times failing to act decisively on behalf
of our suffering brothers and sisters, and yet, we are indestructible. Bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh,
the Holy Spirit raises us up the church again and again, that the gospel might be lived and proclaimed, forever
new and genuine in a troubled world.
As we gather at the altar to celebrate Eucharist on this Pentecost Sunday, may our hearts and hands be strengthened!
May we, living stones, build in this community God’s life, God’s community, God’s peace!
“Come Holy Spirit raise up your people!”
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