Tomorrow, we will baptize baby Wyatt Edward. Here in my hand is an ordinary acorn. Within this small acorn are all the makings of a mighty oak tree. It just needs time, sunlight, water, and earth to grow gradually into a mighty oak. What has happened here in the Northeast of the United States in the last few days? Strong winds and rains have wreaked havoc upon homes and roadways with uprooting trees and snapping branches and causing hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses to lose power. I hope you notice, very few oak trees have been toppled.
They are strong with deep roots and powerful trunks. Like the acorn, an infant contains within all that is needed to grow into a mature and beloved man or woman.
In the last few days, we have been blessed with words from the Queen of the Epistles, Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans. On Wednesday we heard that “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness because we do not know how to pray as we ought. Remember this text, Romans 8: 28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn of many. Meaning to grow to full stature through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
And then today, Saint Paul says, Brothers and sisters, I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I have great sorrow and anguish in my heart. What for? What does he lament? That his own Jewish people who are children of Israel, of adoption, have the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship and the promises, the patriarchs and from them comes the Christ according to the flesh but they are missing out on this greatest blessing of all. He sounds like so many grandparents and parents who plead in prayer for the Spirit’s help in getting their dear children to return to the faith.
In confession, I love to give as a penance at the right moment, for a person to take the Rosary beads and instead of praying the Hail Mary’s to pray a simple prayer to the Holy Spirit, three words, “Come Holy Spirit,” on each of the beads.
This welcomes and invites the power, strength, fire and love of the Living God to come into one’s heart with seven-fold gifts and many graces to bring to bear on the need for the acorn to grow into a mighty oak, for a child to grow into a mighty active disciple of Christ.
Amen.
- Father Willy's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page.(You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
- To view Rosary prayer and Mass streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EST, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
