June 8, 2025: Come Holy Spirit

Come holy spirit!

Before any orchestra throughout the world begins a performance, it tunes up. And it always tunes to the note “A.” An “A” is this pitch [piano plays an “A.”] Please sing that tone with an “ah.” [I lead everyone to sing.]  Now think of that pitch, that “A.” It’s the same “A” from any instrument [different instruments play an “A.” It’s the same Mozart when we composed operas, it’s the same “A” that Paul Simon or Chappell Roan used to write songs. That particular sound has been “A” since the beginning of time, it will be ‘”A” today and tomorrow and next week, it will be “A” a thousand years from now. 

Now it is the same thing with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit that was given to those gathered together in the first reading, is THE SAME SPIRIT that St. Francis experienced, that St. Joan of Arc experienced, that Martin Luther King Jr experienced, that St. John Paul II experienced . . . and the same one that is trying to get to you. Yes, it’s the same spirit that Jesus sent. 

We don’t receive a “hand me down” spirit, or a “second string” spirit. No, it’s the same Holy Spirit that the early church folks received and the same spirit that is a member of the Trinity. This is great news. And that spirit has many different gifts to give us, as the second reading said, but it’s the same spirit. 

This is great news, and that spirit has many different kinds of gifts, as we heard in the second reading. There’s the gift of compassion, the gift of courage, the gift of tears. But the tricky part is to really discover the depth of the gift (and not just its outer show).  

For example, I believe that my Mom has the gift of listening, but she was born deaf. But it’s not the outer showiness of hearing . . . it goes deeper. She listens with her heart. She listens to understand and not to jump in with a response. 

I believe that I have the gift of celibacy. There are many priests and religious who have the discipline of celibacy, but it remains a struggle. They haven’t opened their will to let God be enough.  

There are some who want the gift of reverence. This is noble. But reverence does not come from an outward showiness. It’s not something one wears or demonstrates by posture. For a man sitting in a wheelchair can be more reverent then someone who kneels on hard gravel. It’s not about show; it’s about one’s heart.  

And today we celebrate that the Holy Spirit has been given to us at Baptism, but still there is more for us learn as Jesus talked about in the gospel, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will you teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” 

I have many gifts, we all do, but there is still so much more for me to learn. So, we’d like you to reflect on what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach you at this point in your life. Think of one of your gifts, or one that we want to have. For example, the gift of patience, or the gift of understanding. You have this already, but how can it grow in you? Again, it’s the outward showiness of it . . . it begins with your heart, your intention, your openness to receive. 

So let us return to the sound of the note “A.” A Maria Van Trapp said, “That’s a very good place to start.” I want to teach you a refrain that comes from the Taize Community. They created sung refrains that are repeated over and over again to break open our egos and our perfectionisms and with repetition trying to open our hearts to receive the message God intends for us. 

The refrain is in Latin. It goes, “Veni Sancte Spiritus.” It means “Come Holy Spirit.” We’ll sing it on one note. The note “A.” [Teach the refrain] The invitation as you sing it is to start letting go of your showiness and ask the Spirit to come into your heart to give you or strengthen your gift. Let us take this time now to pray for the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts.   [All repeat the refrain, as I sing verses over their refrain] 

Verses:

Come, Holy Spirit, from heaven shine forth with your glorious light. Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Come, Comforter of the poor. Come generous Spirit. Come light of our hearts. Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Come, from the four winds O Spirit. Come breath of God; disperse the shadows over us, renew and strengthen your people. Veni Sancte Spiritus.