The Branches 06-10-2025

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were. (Acts 2:1-2)

June 10, 2025

Hello Everyone –

How can we continue to live in the (after)glow of Pentecost?
 
Have you ever had the experience — when you are in the “flow” — you know — when everything is working the way it’s supposed to — everything is just “clicking”?
 
Maybe the set of bookshelves that you are building is turning out just beautifully.
           Or every tennis ball or pickleball you hit manages to stay inside the line or court — for a change!
           Or you are now sailing through that homework assignment that you struggled to understand — that research paper that took forever to pull together suddenly takes flight.
           Maybe it’s confronting that family crisis — and everyone in the family is rising to the occasion. What could have been a painful, divisive situation becomes an experience of love and affirmation.
 
Artists and athletes often speak of the “flow” — when they are deeply involved in their craft or sport — when time ceases to exist. They don’t see themselves as separate from what they are doing — they become “one” with the lathe — the brush — the clay — the bat — the puck. They move as much by instinct as by thought. They become part of something bigger than the self. They are “in the flow.”
           The “flow” is not something you make happen. You don’t do it. It does you!! You don’t find the flow. The flow finds you and carries you!! And when you find yourself in the flow, it feels like it has always been there — has always been available to you — but now it is finally happening — and you are in it!!
 
The Spirit of God that “blew” through that first community of believers to empower them to take shape and have direction — to become the Church — is the ultimate “flow” of God’s activity and presence at work in the world.
           From that first Pentecost to this present moment — the Spirit catches us in its “flow” — drawing us into communion with God — with the world — and with one another.
           The “flow” is the Spirit working through us — carrying us — inspiring us to Easter transformation.
 
You see — Pentecost is a moment of profound realization and transformation from that small band of Jesus’ disciples to this current manifestation of the Church — wherever we find ourselves today.

The Word they had heard and the wonders they had witnessed came together in a “flow” of understanding — clarity — unity — and courage — that compelled them to carry on the work Jesus had entrusted to them — and now — to us!!
 
Pentecost is the “flow” of God’s love in our midst — a love that transcends words and sentiments to embrace the heart and soul of each and every one of us!! It is the very presence of God in every act of charity and compassion — in every moment of forgiveness and peace that we extend and experience — in every effort we make for justice and community.
 
          O God, who by the mystery of the feast of Pentecost
          sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation,
          pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit
          across the face of the earth
          and, with the divine grace that was at work
          when the Gospel was first proclaimed,
          fill now once more the hearts of all believers. Amen

As I do for you, please pray for me,

Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee

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