Dear Mary Bertha and Pentecost

Devin and I prayed a novena in preparation for Pentecost, asking the Holy Spirit to give us His seven gifts in an even deeper way, and I was joyfully expectant of a wonderfully joyous Pentecost.  Today, I was too sick to participate in Holy Mass and felt so sad that I would be unable to receive Communion on this most special of feasts.  I had been so eager for Pentecost and now, even though my faith told me that I could receive every grace at home in bed, my heart shriveled in disappointment.

However, like the disciples locked away to whom Christ came, dear Mary Bertha came to me this afternoon, bearing the most Precious Body and Blood of Jesus.  She walked into our home, a dear plump smiling woman and said, “The peace of Christ be with you.”  And, I began to weep.  I had felt so alone and discouraged and here was Christ, come to me in the hands of this sweet woman, to breathe upon me His Holy Spirit.  Dear Mary Bertha gave me the most beautiful mother’s embrace and just let me cry, softly reminding me that I am part of the body of Christ, and, today, the body of Christ was reaching out to me.  She read from the Gospel of John about Pentecost and offered a short reflection, then gave to me Christ in Communion.

Oh, Christ, how good you are.  So humble, to allow yourself, under the appearance of bread, to be borne in the hands of a mortal woman and given to another woman, sinful and so small.  So faithful, to repeatedly seek us out, even when we are locked away at home.  So mighty, to breathe upon us anew with Your Fire of Love, we who time and again refuse to live fully the life of grace that is our birthright as adopted sons and daughters.

Thank you for Mary Bertha, your image and your herald today.