Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - Feast of Pentecost 2014

A number of thoughts swirl around my mind at the moment, perhaps it’s the prompting of the Spirit for in recent days I have found a new focus, one little expected, suddenly moving me into action to try and shine a light on the need for new directions, to help change one small area of our national life. You’ll find mention of Stephen Sutton in a number of my recent reflections. He stands for so many other unsung people, young and old who, responding to the Spirit’s gifts in their lives, do what we ought to, reach out in care, love and concern and get on with working for a better world! We shall remember them!

There are many conflicting and competing voices in the world’s affairs, not all of them good, some are siren voices of cultures inimical to the Gospel. Take the cult of celebrity for instance, or the over aggressive pursuit of wealth, fame and power, at the expense of others. More than ever our society has need of the voice of the Spirit preaching, speaking and working through us in our words and in our deeds, to bring to the fore truth, reconciliation, hope and love.

This Pentecost pray for humility in all those who exercise office and formal ministry in the structures of the Church, they have their tasks, but they are only the servants of the Community of Christ. So look to yourselves, for you are the voice of the Spirit and the love of Christ, it is you who make the difference, not those in positions of so called power, for true power lies in humbleness of heart, one that beats with love.

I thought I’d share a short piece I found in National Catholic Reporter by Patricia Lefebvre, it’s about D Day but it speaks so powerfully about the real Pentecost happening all the time when people unite:

“The Normandy landing was about more than American liberating forces. It was about united resolve and unwieldy cooperation among US, British and Canadian soldiers, sailors and aviators aided by Belgian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, South African, Australian and New Zealander support staff and those from the French Resistance. Their flags decorate these beaches today”.

It takes time and hard work for the Spirit and ourselves to connect, but when we unite, truth and love sets us free.

Fr Robin Gibbons is an Eastern Rite Chaplain for the Melkite Greek Catholics in Britain.

To sign Fr Robin's petition to Prime Minister David Cameron calling for the creation of a Stephen Sutton award: see: www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/prime-minister-create-a-stephen-sutton-award-and-start-changing-the-honours-system?utm_campaign=new_signature&utm_medium=email&utm_source=signature_receipt#