Bottom line: The Holy Spirit and Communion will transform you little by little.

Congratulations to our children and young people receiving their First Holy Communion today - also to parents, godparents and family members. You probably notice I am wearing red - color of the Holy Spirit. Today is Pentecost Sunday. There's a close relation between the Holy Spirit and Communion. After all, how does plain unleavened bread become the Body of Jesus? In the Eucharistic Prayer, the most sacred part of the Mass we hear this:

Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
so that they may become for us
the Body and + Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You notice that at this point the server rings the bell. That is because when the priest says those words and extends his over the gifts, the Holy Spirit descends to transform them into Jesus' Body and Blood.

Transform means to change or remake. You mom can take a few ingredients - flour, eggs, sugar, walnuts etc. - and transform them into delicious cookies. In Eastern Washington we have high dams that take the power of falling water and transform it into electricity for our homes and to charge our phones. Similarly, the Holy Spirit transforms bread and wine. He also transforms you and me. St Paul says:

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

When you receive Jesus, you become intimately united with him - and also with all members of his Body. St. Paul mentions Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, but we could add children down in Peru, families in China, young people in Nigeria who also receive Communion. We are joined in one body - by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We pray in the union of the Holy Spirit - that is, the Communion of Saint in heaven, purgatory and here on earth. When you pray, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you talk with Jesus. Jesus, I thank you. Jesus, help me. Jesus, I trust in you. The Holy Spirit enables us to pray. As we said before the Gospel.

Heal our wounds; our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away.

Now I wish I could say that when you receive Communion, everything is going to be perfect - smooth sailing from here on. No, we are in struggle and we need Jesus strength each week. Remember the commandment: Keep holy the Lord's Day. Keep coming to Mass. The Holy Spirit and Communion will transform you little by little. You will experience days of wonderful grace. You will also face setbacks, but the Holy Spirit will pick you back up if you let him. And don't forget the power of Jesus' forgiveness in Confession. I'll conclude with that verse from today's Gospel:

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them..."

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