Forty Five years ago today, on another beautiful Saturday in May, I walked down the center aisle of the Holy Cross Cathedral kneeling and prostrating myself before Cardinal Humberto Medeiros. Yes, there was a time in my life when I could genuflect, and kneel and even lie flat on the floor and get up without help! A lot has changed in those 45 years!
            Back on that ordination day I did what so many young  people do: I said yes and pledged myself to an unknown future in the changing world of 1972. Of course at that age we are naïve and idealistic and filled with dreams for the future. It is only in the living out of that commitment that we come to experience the reality and the depth of what it really means.
            And I suspect that is what happened for those apostles Jesus is talking with in today’s gospel reading. Jesus promises to send them the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth and he goes on to say that this Holy Spirit will be with you always. And as the early church began to multiply and develop the spirit of God made itself known over and over again. And the result is the church we have today.
            As my own life and ministry began to multiply and develop, it became obvious to me that I was not in this alone. Rather the Holy Spirit was moving me and directing my own journey. And that becomes very evident as I look back over the years. For example, in 45 years, I have never failed to come up with a homily for a weekend. Granted some are a lot better than others…. Often times people will say I really needed to hear that homily, when I thought it was one of my worst! And other times people will recount something significant that I said in a homily when in fact I never said such a thing at all.
            But that all goes to demonstrate for me how God’s spirit works in our lives and has worked over the years in my ministry. Left on my own I am certain God’s Word would never be preached as effectively!
            And so I celebrate this anniversary today with a heart filled with gratitude to the God who first called me into formation in 1964; to the God who has remained faithful to me throughout all those many years; and to the God who promises to share with me His Holy Spirit always, until the end of time.
            Please celebrate with my by giving thanks to God for remaining faithful in your lives as well.