Rain delay

Acts 18:1-8; Ps 98 The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power; John 16:16-20

Rain delays.   We are all familiar with rain delays.  Usually these occur during a baseball game.  Somewhere in the middle of an inning the skies will open up and the rain falls and the game is temporality  halted.   There is a delay in the cation until the skies clear and the rain either slows or stops all together.

Rain delays are usually where the fans get rowdy and the baseball players themselves get into the action of goofing off.

Often times, the rain delay will turn into a postponement.  This means the game is called and another day they wither resume or they forget about it all together and just move on with the schedule.

Today we encounter a liturgical rain delay.

This Thursday is the Feast of the Ascension.

It is forty days after the resurrection and thus as St. Luke tells us this is the time when Jesus ascends upward to be seated at the right hand of the Father.  This may be the only day we are most certain about.

Yet, the church in many parts of the world, as in ours, have decided to move the solemnity to Sunday rather than celebrated on Thursday.

THere is a stop in action until this weekend then we pick up where we left off.  A Liturgical rain delay gives us an opportunity not so much to goof off but to prepare for the celebration.

In fact, today marks the opportunity to begin a novena to the Holy SPirit, as we are now 9 days from Pentecost.

How quickly the 50 days of Easter fades.

Here is a quick little prayer to the Holy Spirit you can cut and paste and say it daily for the next 9 daysin preparation to celebrate more attentively the Pentecost reality:

"Come HOly Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your SPirit, and they shall be created.  and you shall renew the face of the Earth.
O God, who by the light of the HOly Spirit, did instruct hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy his consolations through Christ our lord. Amen."

Cut and paste and post it on your refrigerator or your office door or bathroom Mirror and pray in preparation for the out pouring of the Holy Spirit with those marvelous gifts: Understanding, wisdom, counsel, knowledge, courage, piety, and Fear of the lord!


Don't waste the liturgical rain delay.