Pentecost People

That's my dad on the afternoon of Pentecost Sunday at St. Margaret of Scotland Church. I cannot give the exact year other than to suggest 1993 as most likely. I was still rather fresh, brand new at the parish in 1992, so I am going to rule those years out. As to 1995, well, that was the year Dad passed away and that journey of his began right around Pentecost Sunday that year. Actually, the year doesn't matter.
What matters is that it is clearly Pentecost Sunday. I can tell by the array of red geraniums around the baptismal font.
From my recollection  it was back then that we introduced this idea. Bring a red geranium plant on Pentecost Sunday and after Mass they will be planted around the grounds of the parish. Nowadays many churches have adopted this idea and on Pentecost Sunday you can see numerous folk headed to church bearing their geranium plants. Then as summer progresses, drive around your neighborhood and check out the local church grounds and you may see red geraniums flowering in abundance.
Red geraniums, wearing red on Pentecost Sunday are sorts of little things to remind us of a big thing!
Those with all that red are by that very color proclaiming that, "We are a Pentecost People!"
Those red geraniums flowering on the grounds of so many churches are likewise proclaiming, "Here is the gathering place of a Pentecost People."
"You can find Pentecost People here!"
Or you should!
I am afraid that many, far too many who should see themselves as Pentecost People really do not.
Pentecost People are those who are filled by the Holy Spirit, moved by the Holy Spirit, and led into action by the Holy Spirit.
And wearing red while sitting back is awfully easy and very comfortable.
But look at the story of that first Pentecost.
The Spirit came and those filled with the Spirit went out into the streets, no, make that rushed out into the streets making something happen, beginning to transform the world in which they lived.
The Spirit will cause us to disturb the status quo.
And therefore that's a Pentecost People - those who do not just sit around waiting for something but those who actually make something happen!
My dad was a Pentecost Person.
Deeply involved in his parish even before Vatican II. I can remember many an early Saturday morning when he would get me into the car and we would drive down to Eastern Market to beg fresh produce for the Sisters who staffed our school. Just one little thing to make something better.
He was also an usher. He was involved in number of church organizations. He was definitely not one to sit back, waiting for something to happen.
In his later years, and I am talking here about his 70's and 80's, he was lector, Eucharistic Minister, regularly spending time visiting the homebound on his way home from church. He became a Stephen Minister, a trained bereavement minister, a Third Order Franciscan. A take your breath away kind of person.
That's a Pentecost Person!
Mom was right there along with Dad.
Matter of fact, I was surrounded by family who knew the importance of being Pentecost People. In one way or other, not always dramatically, they were involved and doing.
In a previous blog I mentioned my Uncle Bill and Aunt Agnes, both active in promoting the message of Divine Mercy. That was just one way in which they let the Spirit move them.
I think of two other of my aunts - Pauline and Catherine.
Some might consider what they did not very "churchy." But living under the guidance and power of the Spirit empowered then to do what they did.
Both were widowed early in life. Both were left with young children. In those days there simply were no mega-life insurance policies. So, while working to raise their children properly, they went back to jobs and work, putting in full days on the job and coming home to clean house, fix dinner and do laundry. And add to that helping with homework, taking time to pray with their children and providing dedicated "Mom" time. Unrelentingly they devoted themselves to doing the best job possible in caring for those children whom God had gifted to them.
As I think back on the parishes in which I have served over some 55 years, I can recall many, so very many Pentecost People. They were the ones who brought life not just to their parishes but to their families, to their jobs, to their neighborhoods.
They made a difference.
Being Church was not just saying some prayers, fitting in time for Mass on Sunday and adhering to some certain code of conduct. Not for those truly Spirit filled people.
It was about being Pentecost People.
That is who God wants us to be.
And just try and imagine what this world would be like if those who should be Pentecost People really tried to be.
So go ahead and wear red on Pentecost, carry a red geranium to church as well.
But more critical is how you answer the question, "Am I truly a Pentecost Person?"

May the Spirit shake your world!