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There is a story told of a New York man, who hosted a friend visiting from England. He wanted to show his guest the marvels of our country, so he took him to Niagara Falls. “Come,” he said, “I will show you the greatest, unharnessed power in the world.” From above they could appreciate the expanse of the Falls, as they looked from the U.S. to the Canadian side. Then they went below, where the water made a deafening noise and sprayed mist hundreds of feet in the air. The American explained about the enormous quantity of water and its great force. He had to practically shout into his friends ear as he concluded, “Here is the greatest unused power in the world.”
The visitor was certainly impressed; he had seen nothing like it in his own country. But then he started to think a little deeper. “Yes,” he said to his American friend, “the power here is great, but there is something much greater. The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit.” Sadly, that man has a point. Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, which is the Feast of the Holy Spirit. It reminds us of a power we have barely tapped into as Christians. In the readings we see some of the things the Holy Spirit makes possible: Communication in a language deeper than words that resonates with people of every nation. Inner peace. Forgiveness of sins and healing of body and soul. Unity and friendship between people who were formerly enemies. Every worthwhile gift. Renewal of the earth.
This Sunday you and I are reminded that we are not only allowed, but also invited, to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit. How our world would change if we permitted him to enter our hearts and drive our decisions! In my years as a priest, so many people have told me that they wish their lives could be different, that they would love to redo or undo certain moments and decisions. They would like to have more energy, more enthusiasm, and live in the truth. They want interior peace and a sense of purpose; they wish they had not spent so many years wandering from God and his love. Those good things and a sense of direction come from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit energizes us, guides us, and gives us new life.
Every person in every age needs the Holy Spirit, but the need is especially urgent now. One of our biggest problems today is boredom and mediocrity. An apathy and indifference has descended on our culture which hides a sense of despair. We have all kinds of entertainment and creature comforts, we are busier than ever, but people feel bored, unfulfilled, and unhappy. Boredom leads people to fall into vices, like greed, envy, lust, gluttony, anger, and so on. However, these vices do not bring happiness; they are ways of keeping God at arm’s length.
The solution is NOT to try and do more or become workaholics. In fact, for many modern-day Catholics, workaholism and never-ending busyness masks a deeper spiritual laziness. Many people never stop working or going from one thing to the next because they fear the effort involved working on the relationship with their spouse, children and God. But that should never be us.
On the other hand, the person who opens himself to the power of the Holy Spirit can find joy in things which are small and ordinary. We’ve had some great examples of modern saints, like Mother Teresa and John Paul II who were incredibly productive and engaged in the world but also constantly in touch with God. Another great example is St. John Neumann. He came to America to serve immigrants as a priest. Besides the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, he made a personal vow to never waste a single moment of time. If he were alive today I actually don’t think he would be multi-tasking, always on the phone, replying to texts and emails and updating his social media. St. John did not indulge in constant, frenetic activity, but instead opened himself to the grace of every moment. As a young priest he ministered to a far-flung parish of miners. It involved a lot of traveling during which he engaged in prayer and studying languages. Besides German, Czech and English, he learned Spanish, French, Italian, and Dutch so he could hear confessions of his diverse parishioners. When Irish immigration started, he learned Gaelic so well that one Irish woman remarked, "Isn't it grand that we have an Irish bishop!”
Later, as Archbishop of Philadelphia, he was instrumental in setting up the Catholic School system which quickly spread throughout the country. St. John did not live a long life - he died in his late forties. Nonetheless, his accomplishments endure because he placed every moment under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and allowed himself to be shown what had to be done and what had to be ignored. He couldn’t do everything and he was ok with that. In spite of many troubles and much opposition, he maintained an inner calm. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he was able to sift though all the things that called for his attention and focus on what actually needed his time and energy. This being present to God and others in the moment brought him peace and freedom from anxiety. People commented on how he could find joy in little things such as seeing a beautiful flower or speaking to a child.
Like St. John, we have a great, untapped power available to us; a spiritual Niagra falls, the same Holy Spirit that enabled him to accomplish amazing things in 48 short years. All we have to do is ask for this gift of the Spirit and give God time and space to work. That means slowing down, listening to him in prayer, and letting go of our constant need for entertainment, comfort, and non-stop activity. When we do this, we will be amazed at how alive we feel, how stress melts away, and how we always have the time to do the things that are most important. Make sure and speak to the Holy Spirit today and every day: Come, Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, you have permission to enter our lives, our work, our families and our decisions. Enkindle in us the fire of your love. Dear Father, send out your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of your Son Jesus and renew the face of the earth.
