Today began with Holy Mass at St. Mary’s for the Feast of Pentecost. Robert picked us up as usual and right on time, and Mini came along happily, sitting close as if she knew it was a great feast day. The morning was soft and bright, with May flowers everywhere and the trees in the grove looking fresh and full. I kept thinking that even the blossoms looked like little flames, though gentle ones.
At Mass, Father LeRoy read the Gospel about the disciples being shut inside with the doors locked because they were afraid. Then Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Father LeRoy said that Jesus did not wait until they were brave before He came to them. He came right into their fear and gave them peace. Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Father said the Holy Spirit comes quietly and strongly, and He makes frightened hearts brave.
After Mass, when we came home, I could not stop thinking about the locked room. I walked out to the old garage in the grove, and Mini came along, of course. The garage is not locked like the disciples’ room was, but it is quiet and tucked away, and sometimes it feels like a little room God saved for prayer. The peeling white boards looked old and humble, and the flowers around it made it seem like Heaven had leaned down close to earth.
When I stood in the doorway, my imagination became very busy. I pictured the garage full of children dressed like little apostles, kneeling around Our Lady. Mary was so still and prayerful in the middle, like she knew how to wait for God better than anyone. Above them was the Holy Ghost, like a white dove, and bright golden light came down through the air. Little flames rested above their heads, but they were gentle flames, not scary ones. They were like love made visible.
Mini sat beside me and looked into the garage as if she could see it too. Her ears were perked up, and she was very quiet. I whispered, “Peace be with you,” because that is what Jesus said first. I think He knew peace had to come before courage. Then I thought of how He sent the apostles out after giving them the Holy Spirit. He did not just comfort them so they could stay hidden. He comforted them so they could go.
I wondered if Pentecost can happen in small ways at Camp Littlemore too. Maybe the Holy Spirit helps me tell the truth when I am scared, pray when I am distracted, be kind when I would rather be cross, and love Jesus even when I cannot see Him with my eyes. Maybe He can make a little farm girl brave, just like He made the apostles brave.
This evening, I am going to remember that Jesus can come through locked doors. He can come through worried thoughts, shy feelings, and even places in my heart I keep closed. And when He comes, He still says, “Peace be with you.”
Evening Prayer
Dear Holy Spirit, please come into my heart like You came at Pentecost. Give me peace when I am afraid, courage when I am weak, and love for Jesus in everything I do. Stay with Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Mini, and all of us at Camp Littlemore. Amen.
Love,
Kathy
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A reading from
the holy Gospel according to John 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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