by Michael Podrebarac
An open letter to all who have been confirmed.
Dear confirmands,
Pentecost Sunday is just around the corner, and Pentecost marks the very source of the sacrament of confirmation.
You all know, of course, that in this sacrament, you were sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, knowledge, and understanding; right counsel and fortitude; pious reverence, and that awe and wonder of God that we call fear of the Lord. It was accomplished by ancient words and a thumbprint of olive oil upon your brow. Very efficient, and altogether graceful.
Please don’t ever forget what you have received. And if you have forgotten, take this Pentecost to reclaim and remember just what you received.
In the beginning, God spoke his Word upon the opening chaos, and order came about. That breath of God’s word is the Holy Spirit.
God spoke to the patriarchs and prophets in a way they could hear and understand. The Holy Spirit did this, and these same patriarchs and prophets, by the same Spirit, were then able to proclaim God’s word exactly as he wanted it.
Even back then, the Spirit of the Lord was considered so permanent an anointing, that even though David was pursued by King Saul who wanted to kill him, he himself would not bring harm to his king, because Saul had been anointed by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit came upon a young, betrothed virgin, whose name was Mary, and she conceived the incarnate Son of the Living God.
That same Holy Spirit anointed the Son of Mary, and of God, at his baptism, and led him into the desert to fast for 40 days.
The Holy Spirit was poured upon the apostles at Pentecost, and they who were once weak and afraid became mighty and brave, fearing not even death as they proclaimed the Gospel to the world, a proclamation that for almost 2000 years has been preserved by their successors and made manifest by all who have been reborn by water and the Spirit.
You have participated in Pentecost. You have received the fullness of that same Holy Spirit whose power and might brought forth the church and has sustained it ever since. Your Pentecost was the day you were confirmed. You received not a little piece of the Spirit, but the entirety of his creative splendor and force and strength.
Ask yourself this question: If the Holy Spirit did all these things, then what might he just wish to do through me?
He will do whatever you let Him do.
