There are gifts and hurdles in times of isolation. The hurdles, often more prevalent in my sometimes overcritical perspective, can seem insurmountable at times. In these times of desolation, I find myself wrestling with demons and doubts behind the locked door of my heart. I can even be dissuaded from daring to enter into the silence of prayer.


While the Disciples were sitting behind closed, locked doors, were they feeling this same languish in their isolation? Were they suffocating under the weight of fear, confusion, and grief? Did they complain, softly chanting their dirges? Or did they sit quietly, paralyzed by the deafening silence of His absence?


Over the last number of weeks, my family has found themselves with a bit more time to spare. And so, we decided, what better way to spend that time than to watch the entire, epic series of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Throughout the series, a number of different races at different times resisted engaging in the fight against darkness—locked their doors, so to speak. In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, a community of Woodland Elves was led by one who was prone to this resistance. He was willing to fight to keep his own territory at peace, but was disinterested in joining the greater alliance against evil. One Woodland Elf, Tauriel, could not abide by his command. She had the spirit of Love aflame within her, and refused to retreat into isolation from the battle for the greater Good.




Legolas: “It is not our fight.”


Tauriel: “It is our fight. It will not end here. With every victory this evil will grow. If your father has his way, we will do nothing. We will hide within our walls, live our lives away from the light and let darkness descend. Are we are not part of this world? Tell me, Mellon (friend), when did we let evil become stronger than us?”




This is what happens when we unlock our doors to receive the breath of Love: Courage rises up within us. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an endowment of peace and power. He opens our eyes and hearts and sets us forth into freedom; into rejoicing, healing, repentance, forgiveness—and the commission to set others free. This is what happened for the Disciples that day in the Upper Room, and it can also happen for us if we sit and wrestle through the darkness, waiting in trust for the Light to come. He will make Himself known to us—breathing His Spirit into us—empowering us to do things we never thought possible.




Let us pray:
Breathe on us, Lord Jesus. Alight the warrior within us. May we find healing and strength in Your Holy Spirit, propelling us into battle against the evils within and around us. Magnify our hearts, Lord, erasing all fear, so that we will battle not only for our own freedom, but for the freedom of others. For we know by Your fearless example, that true Love is an unlocked door.




Lori MacDonald

In my first few weeks of grad school, I found myself in a conversation with a minister from another Christian tradition. In our getting-to-know-you conversation my field of study, a Masters in Divinity, came up. Immediately, the minister said, “But you’re Catholic!” I smiled politely and replied, “Yes. Yes, I am.” His comment implied: why would a Catholic woman do a degree that (usually) leads to ordination? I chose it because I knew with certainty then, as I do now, that I have a place and role in the Catholic Church and I needed to learn more about my faith. Ordination not required. Many good and faithful women and men — ordained, religious, and lay — have assured me of my place. More importantly, God supplied me with His gifts in order to fulfill a role in His Church. The words of Saint Paul to the disciples in Corinth reiterates this fact to me.  


Even though I know this truth, I still compare myself to others — often. Theodore Roosevelt is quoted as saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Is it ever! When I start to compare what I believe I have with what others have, nine times out of ten, I feel I am lacking. Yet God gifted me just as much as anyone. I am just as gifted as my coworker whose presentations are always perfection, or my friend who always knows what to say and when to say it. And my neighbour who constantly plays his music way too loud, or the young woman at the grocery store overwhelmed by life, or the minister who questioned my educational choice — they’re also just as gifted as I am. God doesn’t love me any more or any less than anyone else! We were made different by the same God to witness and create God’s goodness. No exceptions. The uniqueness of each of us is God’s gift to us. Our gift to God is to use that uniqueness to bring us together; to do more good!


If our pandemic lockdowns have taught me anything, it is the reminder that we were not meant to be alone. We do not function well when people are not using their skills, talents, and abilities to bring about truth, beauty, and good. Yes, we all need alone time. Hello my fellow introverts! However, some of my best moments of growth have been a group effort. Instances where each person put forward the best of what they had to offer not to benefit themselves as individuals but to benefit us all. We were made for communion with one another through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Only in that communion can our gifts actually be gifts. Gifts need to be given to someone. And because God has gifted each of us uniquely, each one of us is necessary and needed in this life. Each one of us has a role, a place. “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” So let’s do some good!




Aurea Sadi

I’m thinking about the times when I have felt my soul blessing the Lord. When I think about blessing the Lord with my soul, the very depths of my being, I think about times when I have been overwhelmed with joy and peace. When it seems like my heart is so full it might burst out of my chest. 

Some of these times happen when I am in nature and seeing the vast beauty of all that God has created. I remember times when I have stood on a hilltop overlooking a beautiful valley and I feel my soul rejoice in the goodness of God — that He would create this beauty for me to behold. I also think of the births of my children and that feeling when I first saw their faces and held them in my arms; to exchange that first glance after months of imagining it. What joy my heart felt at that moment. 

I also think of times when God has allowed me a glimpse of His plan for my life and I see how He is holding me so closely that my very breath depends on His Spirit moving within my lungs. 
These are times when I bless the Lord with my very soul. I don’t really have control over it. It’s like when a child is falling and I reach out to catch them out of pure instinct. I can’t stop my soul from crying out in praise to God. 

Today I want to thank God for these moments of blessing and I ask that He help you remember the times when your soul cried out in praise of Him too. Let our souls bless God together for His greatness over all the earth. Amen.




​Maxine Brown
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Pentecost Sunday. Big day! One of the three most important days in our liturgical year.


I am writing this reflection and you are reading it because, on this feast day 2000 years ago, the Holy Spirit “inspired” (breathed into) the Disciples and set their hearts on fire such that they burst out of the Upper Room and began to proclaim to “every nation under heaven” news of “God’s deeds of power.” Had the Disciples opted to celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit among themselves in the Upper Room, you and I would be doing something entirely different today.


That followers should be transformed by the Holy Spirit and become disciples by going out to share the love of Jesus with others remains the mission of the Church today, and it’s a mission that continues to have a purpose. There remain people in “every nation under heaven” who still have no idea who Jesus really is.


Until recently, I hadn’t considered the scope of the word “nation.” My understanding was limited to the geographical; I thought of countries beyond the Mediterranean Sea and people who lived far away from Jerusalem. But I think my understanding of “nation” has been too narrow. I believe there are “nations” closer to home — our families, our communities, our workplaces — where Jesus remains essentially unknown and where the Holy Spirit has no place to rest.


When John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and Jesus began His public ministry. On the feast of Pentecost, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to be with the Disciples, and they began their public ministry. We too have a public ministry, and Jesus equips us for it by sending us His Holy Spirit. “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)


The people in the Upper Room were full to bursting with the Holy Spirit. They were compelled to proclaim the good news, and they couldn’t resist it! Today, we seem to have so much noise and friction in our lives, all manner of forces that keep us from beginning our earthly ministries, or even wanting to. We need to make the effort, to call on the Holy Spirit to give us the will and the energy.


We often pray “Come Holy Spirit,” but my favourite prayer is one that reminds me that the Spirit is with me always, and so I pray, “Rise up, Holy Spirit.” Rise up, set our hearts ablaze, and send us out to every nation.


Have you burst out of the Upper Room, or are you still in hiding? Being a witness is not easy but, because Jesus has given us all we need to be an authentic witness to His love for us, perhaps it is at least simple.


Rise up, Holy Spirit!




Donna Davis