This Sunday we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost. We witness on this day the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus to send the Holy Spirit upon His Apostles. The Holy Spirit will transform the lives of these Apostles. These frightened men who abandoned Jesus at His Passion will be transformed into bold witnesses who will endure persecution, suffering, ridicule, and other forms of trial as they preach His Good News. As we celebrate this feast, we are encouraged to allow the Holy Spirit to come into our minds, into our lives, and into our hearts.
This Monday we celebrate Memorial Day, and we remember in a special way those men and women in the armed forces who have made the supreme sacrifice in defense of our nation. Some of those who died were military chaplains who faithfully served the spiritual needs of our men and women in the armed forces and also served the spiritual needs of their families. Many of our servicemen and women died in wars and in terrorist attacks. They sacrificed their lives and their freedom and helped make it possible for us to enjoy our lives and our freedom. They were prematurely separated from family members and friends, and a grateful nation pays them homage and respect.
The following prayer prepared by an unknown author helps us appreciate the significance of this day. As we reflect on this prayer below and as we celebrate Memorial Day, we are reminded to truly appreciate our precious faith and freedom which we should never take for granted. In addition, on this day we are urged to join our brothers and sisters who pray for the repose of the souls of these men and women who have gone before us, and for the consolation of their family members and friends.
