Happy birthday! What a great moment when new life comes into the world and breathes for the first time. Once birth occurs, everyone joyfully anticipates that the new life will grow big & strong and eventually share life with others.

Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. On the day of Pentecost, the small body of believers, the Church, emerges from hiding & breathes in the breath of the Spirit. The power of the Spirit, the tongues of fire, animate and enlighten the Body, the family of Christ. The Spirit moves Peter and the Apostles to preach and baptize thousands of new members.

The world sees the Church alive! Even at its birth, the Church grows powerful and generates new life. Each day, the Spirit is available to us through scripture, sacraments, prayer, etc. Power is present, for guidance, growth and new life, new birth-but only if we choose to accept the Spirit.

Do we let the Spirit move us?
Are we growing in faith?
Do we inspire new life in those around us?

May everyday be a new and happy Spiritual birthday for us as Christians.

Fr. Mike Ronayne