~ Pentecost Reflection ~
At His holy Ascension our Lord fulfilled His dispensation for our sake, and the following Sunday we commemorate the Holy Fathers whom He inspired to guide the ark of His Church, so that we may all come to the safe and eternal haven, His heavenly kingdom. We are certainly free to dive into the sea, or launch out in our own canoe, to rely on our own judgement. This is the counsel of the world: the world's brand of "freedom," which leads to shipwreck and drowning in the abyss. Wouldn't we consider it irresponsible--crazy, really--for someone to leave a ship in the middle of the ocean that way? But so many people think they will navigate the sea of life all on their own, with no real experience or understanding of the dangers.
Christ gave us good pilots, teachers who know how to prepare for receiving God's blessings, how to open our hearts to His Holy Spirit. We don't have to figure it out for ourselves! The program for eternal happiness has already been written--all we have to do is follow it. As He told us, His yoke is easy and His burden light.
This is why every year we commemorate the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council on the Sunday between Ascension and Pentecost. Christ is telling us that if we follow the guidelines of the Church, we will be ready to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit "not many days hence." May He find your heart a place where the Holy Spirit can rest.
✢ Father Menas and the Brethren with me
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