We Become What We Celebrate

Happy Birthday, Holy Mother Church!  The Church was born over 2000 years ago when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and Mary.  The Holy Spirit is just as present now as He was on that day!  If we were in a Gospel church right now, you would hear a resounding "Amen!", here. 

Matthew Kelly (same writer of the children's book I recommended two days ago)writes more beautifully and succinctly about the power of celebrating than anyone else I've ever read.  In Rediscovering Catholicism, he writes:

~ "The essence of Catholicism is transformation.  You cannot become more like Jesus Christ and at the same time stay as you are."

~ "We become what we celebrate."
~ "The best way to defend life is to celebrate life.  The best way to defend our faith is to celebrate our faith."
~ "The best way to speak about God is to thrive in the life He calls us to live."

We can best celebrate life and everything it contains by living well - making choices based on things that are important to us:  God, family, all of the people in our lives, and ourselves.
Jesus tells the disciples it is better for them (and us) to have the Holy Spirit as Advocate than Jesus Himself! In John 16:7-11 He says, "But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned."

When I think of the greatest gift the world has ever been given, I think of Jesus Christ.  However, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit is the gift that He gives us.  The gift that remains.

In today's second reading from Galatians 5:16-25, Paul writes, "Brothers and sisters, live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want...If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit."

Dear Loving and Righteous Father, Thank you for Jesus Christ and sending the Holy Spirit to remain with us after You called Jesus back to Yourself on the day He ascended into Heaven.  You know we can't find our way to You without help.  Thank you for always giving us what we need, long before we ask or even know we need help.  Please give us the grace to celebrate our faith by living as You would have us live.  Thank you for the Church and her wisdom, as received by the Holy Spirit.  Amen!