Awaiting Pentecost

Joesph Lee L'Heureux

W e have just celebrated the greatest feast day of all time, Easter, the crucifixion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, for Christianity the Paschal Mystery, for Jews, the celebration of Passover. Now we await Pentecost, celebrated 50 days after Easter. A time of waiting in expectation for the fire that would fire Christianity and spread its flames all over the world. My favourite time of the year! Allow me too share with you why! Over 40 days after the crucifixion, Jesus appeared eight times to His disciples who were downcast that their hero and Messiah had been crucified. Everyone had returned home, discouraged and bewildered, St. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 15: “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.” “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 3-4) “That He appeared to Mary Magdelene, Mary the mother of James and Saloam.” “Mark 16:1 and 9) “Then He appeared to Peter, and then to the 12. After that He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of who are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the Apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” (1 Corinthians 15:5-8) The last (verse 8) I can make my own, for He also appeared to me, Joseph L’Heureux. Now, doesn’t that sound ridiculous, but I, too, was a skeptic. Like many others we have to be willing to sound a little foolish, for “God has used the foolish things, of this world to confound the wise.” (1 Corinthians 1:27) I had refused to accept, that the Roman Catholic Church, was His church, and that He would send Mother Mary to convey that message in these troubled times. I could accept Jesus was resurrected, this I had experienced in my flesh, (1 John 4:2) but that the Catholic Church and all its doctrines, dogmas, traditions and Eucharist, “eat his flesh and blood”; that this was our daily food? (John 6:42-62) all this was a bit much. So where does He appear to me? In a Catholic gathering, while celebrating the Mass for Pentecost, right after distribution of the Eucharist, which we call ‘communion’ or His body and blood. “He was standing in a bank of clouds, arms open, welcoming me home.” Just like the book of Acts tells us how He would come back for us. (Acts 1:9-11) Even this stubborn protester, could put the pieces of the puzzle together. Yes! Just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, I too, “recognized Him when He broke the bread.” (Luke 24:35) Where was I at the time physically, emotionally and mentally? Visiting every Protestant denominational church for 42 months, looking for the whole truth; wrapped up in resentments and disbelief towards the Roman Catholic Church; refusing to say my rosary, refusing to ask Mary for her intercession plus disbelieving in the Medjugorje appearances. Just like Jesus said to St. Thomas, the doubting disciple, “Stop doubting and believe. My Lord and My God,” said Thomas. Then Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed” and “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:27-29) These scripture phrases and quotes woke me up, for they are as alive today for us all, as they were 2,000 years ago for St. Thomas. I had a great Pentecost! Go ahead, anticipate something new this Pentecost. Good things come to those who are expectant. May God’s all consuming flames of love consume us all this Pentecost, as they have consumed so many down through the ages. (Acts 2:3 and Hebrews 12:29) God Bless!