About five months ago, we were gathered together at Bethlehem. We were there on the night that the Lord Jesus was born. We saw the manger. We saw the shepherds. We heard the angels and we saw Our Lady and St. Joseph, and we beheld the face of the invisible God in the face of a baby.
Fifty days ago, we were gathered at the empty tomb. We were there on the morning of the glorious resurrection. We saw the stone that was rolled away. We saw the burial cloths. We heard the announcement of the angels and the message of Mary Magdalene. We heard the voice of Jesus, and we recognized Him in a gardener who knew our name.
A little more than a week ago, we were gathered on the mountain. We were gathered as the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven and took His place at the right hand of the Father. We received His blessing. We heard the voices of the angels. We were filled with joy because the Lord promised to remain with us always. And we were told to await the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Today, gathered in the Upper Room, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and we are sent out. We are sent out to all of the world, or some small part of it. We are sent out with the power from on high that appeared in tongues of fire over the heads of the apostles. We are sent out with the message of forgiveness and mercy and life and holiness. We are sent out from the Upper Room.
But honestly, dear brothers and sisters, I was comfortable at Bethlehem. I was comfortable at the empty tomb. I was even comfortable on the mountain of the Ascension. At Bethlehem, at the empty tomb and on the mountain of the Ascension, we were accepted and we were loved. We were gathered together in the presence of the Lord. We were embraced by the love of God that comes before us. We were embraced by the love of God that surrounds us. We are embraced by the love of God that is promised to us. At Bethlehem, at the empty tomb, and on the mountain of the Ascension, we were accepted and we were loved. I was comfortable there, and maybe you are, too.
But the Spirit sends us out.
The Spirit sends us out from the Upper Room. The Spirit sends us out to the world, but in the world we meet rejection. The Spirit sends us out, and we meet persecution, division and indifference. The Spirit sends us out, and we meet hatred and jealousy and hostility. I was comfortable in the Upper Room, and maybe you were, too.
But the Spirit sends us out. The Spirit sends us out with the power from on high. The Spirit sends us out with the joy of the Gospel. The Spirit sends us out equipped for every good work to build up the Kingdom. The Spirit sends us out to the places He has already prepared.
For the Spirit is already present and working where the Spirit is sending us. And there, already, the Spirit embraces us. The Spirit empowers us. The Spirit sends us forth, and by the fire of His love, He burns away the fear in our hearts.
And now the Spirit draws us to the table of the Savior. Here, the Lord Jesus will consecrate bread and wine, and He will consecrate us anew to share His life, His love, His promise and His salvation. And the Spirit will lead us forth from here with power from on high, with the joy of the Gospel, and with lives consecrated to His service.
Do not be afraid to be sent by the Spirit. Amen.
Father Benjamin A. Roberts is the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe.