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Father O’Connor’s Homily for Pentecost, May 31, 2020

                Fr. Al (not his real name) was a priest of the Albany Diocese and a man I admired very much. He was extremely bright but seemed rather impressed with himself. Then something happened in his life. He turned out to be an alcoholic. His experience with alcoholism broke his spirit.

                Then in the powerlessness of his alcoholism something beautiful began to grow within him; a strong understanding and compassion for fellow alcoholics and drug users grew in his heart.

                He founded a drug rehabilitation program, Hospitality House which is at present located in the old St. Patrick’s Rectory right across the street. He even opened up his own home to addicted young men and at the same time was an active pastor in Schenectady.

                St. Paul was a man who prayed to be released from his weakness. Scripture doesn’t tell us what weakness St. Paul had, but he received an answer from God to his prayer. “My strength is sufficient for you, for power is mad perfect in weakness.” Then St. Paul proclaims, “I boast most gladly of my weakness in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore I am content with the weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and constraints for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

                Fr. Al and St. Paul learned the same lesson, “strength is made perfect in weakness”. In their weakness the power of Jesus grew and flourished. WEAKNESS.

                Today’s Gospel pictures the disciples of Jesus gathered together in the Upper Room. They are fearful, terrified. All a once the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and they are transformed. They begin to boldly profess the victory of Jesus over sin and death.

                Each one of us has some place of weakness within us, a weakness that can destroy us. It may be a place of fear or anger or an addiction. There are so many possibilities for self destruction. This is the place where the Holy Spirit wishes to enter into our lives. God wants to enter through the humble door of our weakness in order to make us instruments of His peace, His Love.

                Come Holy Spirit! Come!