May 11 - Friday after the Ascension

+ We have now entered the seclusion, privacy and prayerful environs of the Upper Room, where Jesus had eaten his last supper with his beloved Apostles just 6 weeks ago. They are gathered there with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to await the coming of the Gift that Jesus had promised would come to them “soon.” He had told them already what it was: an Advocate, a Reminder-er, a Teacher, a Consoler, a Healer, and Friend: but for some reason the grief of this chosen band is still very strong as the only thing they can think about is the physical loss of their Best Friend, their Teacher, their Savior. “Where did he go?” Why did he “abandon us? We are so sad.

And so we enter now into what we know of as a NINE DAY waiting period – the Latin for Nine Days being “Novem Dies” easily recognizable as “Novena” – and as we know a “Novena” is a NINE DAY PRAYER PERIOD recommended to obtain special graces and blessings leading up to a special Feast Day in the Church.

So, we are just in Day ONE now of this original novena – and it is rightly named: “of the Holy Spirit.” as Pentecost will be celebrated in 9 days’ time.

The readings for the day help us in this regard: the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us that Paul is beginning to experience problems as he tries to proclaim Jesus as Lord, King and Savior of all mankind, he begins to be ill-treated, but not ever completely beaten down: for as Jesus tells him: “Don’t be afraid, Paul, to speak out, don’t be afraid to be silenced: because my word will not be silenced, nor will it be imprisoned long: you will be able, slowly, to get the Great Message out – and the world will be renewed, small group by small group, person by person – and I and my Father will be very pleased at how you cooperated with our Spirit.

And in the gospel passage, Jesus reminds us all that the persecutions and misunderstandings and slanders and calumnies that we will endure will all shrink away as a mother’s pain is extinguished when she sees her newborn baby and hold it in her arms! One day we will be the baby, we will be newborns in the Kingdom and the Father will hold us, rejoice over us, and pamper us forever and ever!

Come, Holy Spirit, come! Renew the face of the earth! Renew us all! Renew me in particular! Amen. Alleluia!