There seems to be many differences of opinion that Saint Paul, Saint James or Saint Philip anticipated. Nonetheless, on Pentecost the solution or outcome is led by the Holy Spirit. We somehow do not give Him enough credit for what he does in our Church today. We praise Him every time we make the Sign of the Cross or say a Glory Be. Please recognize that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in our Church.
Last Sunday my Great Nephew Gabriel Valez received his First Holy Communion at Sacred Heart Church in Pinellas Park, Florida. He is 8 years old and so excited. I couldn’t be there. His Dad, a disabled veteran, died last year, but his Mom, Grandmother, Uncle and friends were there. Big Celebration! The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself:
it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. My First Communion and my Wedding Day were certainly the most memorable events of my life. I was too young to remember my Baptism. The Holy Spirit was working in all His glory.
There seems to be minor controversy about holding hands or raising hands during the Our Father. There are some who object to this. The reason they give is that by doing so we are assuming the powers of the Priest during the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass. In their opinion the action is disrespectful to the Priest who has just experienced the Miracle of Transubstantiation. I respect their opinion but disagree with their logic.
When does the Eucharist Prayer begin and end?
It begins with “The Lord be with You” and ends with the “Great Amen”. By definition of the parts of the Mass this cannot be argued. The “Our Father” is not part of the Eucharistic Prayer. There is no scriptural support to say that there is any reason to support this. However, there is scripture to support that the act of holding our hands up during the “Our Father” is right. 1Timothy 2:8 says. It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.
My high School friend, Carla B, puts all this in perspective. If you are told by the Holy Spirit that it is wrong please follow the Spirit and don’t do it. If you are following 1Timothy 2:8 and the Spirit leads you, then do not listen to those other opinions. Either option is what God wants.
But wait!
I have a disclaimer. If your priest or bishop says no, then obedience says we can’t. Hopefully they can give a Spirit based reason. Whatever you believe please give praise to God for the work of the Holy Spirit in Gabriel’s and our lives on this feast day.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace!
