Pentecost Sunday
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Written by Kyle Hatfield
Today marks the day that we remember the birth of the Church. The day that is one the most important days of renewal that we experience in the Church each year. Today, we are called to remember that renewal is not something reserved for just a couple liturgical seasons the Church has set aside each year. Renewal is a daily action, an openness of heart, a constant call to conversion, to allow the Lord to restore us. “When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.”
Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and gave them the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to go and make disciples of all nations. Yet, we, like the Apostles, must start with our own hearts. So often in my own life I have encountered moments, as we all have, where I need to begin again. Each day, we are all called to renewal of our hearts. We are called to proclaim, as the Psalms do today, “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! How manifold are your works, O LORD! The earth is full of your creatures.” We are called to place ourselves in absolute abandonment to the providence of the Father.
I do not think it was an accident that the Lord aligned Pentecost, the birth of the Church, with the season of Spring, the birth of new life each year. Just as Spring brings about new life, new growth, so does this glorious day bring about new life within each of us. Let us ask the Lord today to pour out the Holy Spirit upon each of our hearts, our families, our Church, our workplace, our neighborhoods, our country, and the entire world. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will be sent forth, so we may be created anew, and thus renew the face of the earth.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Kyle Hatfield serves as the Manager, Ministry Development for the Catholic Leadership Institute. Before this role, Kyle was the Camp Director at The Pines Catholic Camp near Tyler, Texas. He has also served as the Middle School Youth Minister at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Houston, TX. Kyle holds a BA in Catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He and his wife, Angela, live in the Dallas, TX area, with their five daughters. Kyle and his family are members of St. Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell, TX. Check him out on LinkedIn.
Pray with today’s psalm.