NAMING GRACE IN THE DOMESTIC CHURCH
  • Home
  • About Naming Grace
  • Message
  • Favorites
  • Events & Videos
  • Contact

Pentecost peace after plates fly

5/19/2018

Comments

 
Picture
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052018-mass-during-day.cfm
When the kids were little, we had not one meal without spilled milk. My husband Mike often chuckled, “Well, it’s not dinner until spilled milk!” I recall one evening when the kids were roughing around, and a full glass of milk and dinner plate flew across the room and crashed onto the floor. Shards of glass and pieces of ceramic lay all around and I had just about had it. I was furious (and they knew it) but asked the Holy Spirit for a little composure. Soon the older kids apologized and helped clean while the little ones remained quiet. Peace returned to the table.

This coming Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost when the Holy Spirit rushed upon a gathering of believers after the Ascension of Jesus. The Spirit of Jesus moves the disciples into the world. If open, the Holy Spirit moves daily as a strong driving wind blowing us into uncharted territory; a warm breeze comforting us after a difficult time; a soft whisper impelling us to offer an encouraging word; an insistent whisper urging us to justice; a deep breath ushering in order amid chaos.

I believe the Spirit is the persistent voice urging us to bend our wills to God’s will—to conform ourselves to Christ. The Spirit stirs our hearts to love—holding our tongues or speaking with tenderness when angry or irritated. The Spirit shifts our thinking about our neighbor through “chance” encounters with a homeless person or an immigrant. The Spirit steers us to witness to truth, though counter-cultural. And when we fail, the Spirit leads us to seek reconciliation and to begin anew.

Calling upon the Spirit is essential for peace in the Christian home, where sometimes, as Pope Francis quipped, “plates fly.” While plates may not fly, without bending our wills to the Spirit, foul words easily fling. Just this week “plates flew” in our household, even after I had been reflecting on the Spirit. Seriously. I had been praying about the Spirit’s desire to bend my will to His. But then my husband and I began “discussing” an important issue and words flew between us—words not of the Spirit—harmful words from our insecure, prideful selves.

I’ve been questioning: Was I not listening to the Spirit? Where was the Spirit when needed? What is the Spirit trying to teach me? I believe the Spirit was speaking, but I was not listening. The Spirit led me to apologize to Mike and to the confessional. The Spirit showed me love despite my failings. The entire incident measured my distance from conformity to Christ—to holiness.

As parents and grandparents, we name grace—the Holy Spirit—as the small still voice of God urging us to love and to forgive. We teach our children to strive for unity within the family—and the family of God—through acts of kindness and frequent apologies. We remind our children the Spirit works unceasingly on behalf of their spiritual welfare.

It’s been a rough ride writing this reflection—discovering just how resistant I am to the Spirit’s urgings of the heart. Yes, the Spirit speaks through strong winds, soft whispers, deep breaths, warm breezes, but often the Spirit strikes the heart through our failures to love and our need for reconciliation. Perhaps the mightiest “act of God” we proclaim is the heartfelt apology after a heated argument when plates flew. Now, that’s good news!

When have you felt the Spirit’s call to peace?How will you teach your child about the Spirit?
Comments

    Reflections

    The blog on this page presents reflections on the Sunday readings through the lens of a parent/grandparent, aiding leaders of the domestic church in their vital task as “first heralds” or “first preachers” of the Good News in the home.

    VIEW FAVORITES

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Naming Grace
  • Message
  • Favorites
  • Events & Videos
  • Contact