Fr. Franco's Letters

The Flame: March/April 2024

Dear Readers of the Flame,

Pentecost was truly a transformative event. I liken the event to God throwing the switch. The foundation of the Church was laid. All the lights were put in place. The wiring had connected everything. The sound system was installed. Everything was ready to go…except there was no power.

When the Spirit came on Pentecost, God threw the switch. The Church lit up. The Church received its voice. Peter, with the one hundred twenty gathered in the Upper Room, was given new understanding, courage and love. By the Spirit he proclaimed that:

God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you (both) see and hear. For David did not go up into heaven, but he himself said: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Therefore, let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:32-36)

The message of Pentecost is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles the understanding of what just happened. The Spirit enlightened them, helping them to lay aside an earthly Kingdom for hope of a heavenly one. They would enter this Kingdom by a baptism of water and the Holy Spirit (John 3). They would live out the commandment of love entrusted to them by the King (John 13:34-35) by the power of the Holy Spirit. (see Colossians 1:8). They would withstand the opposition of those wed to this world by the boldness that the Spirit brought. (see Acts 4:13, 29)

Again, their message was simple, but profound. Jesus Christ died for our sins (Romans 5:8). On the third day He rose from the dead. He is now “Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36) and pours out the Holy Spirit on those who welcome Him.

As we enter these most sacred days of our liturgical calendar, let us pray to see the saving events of Jesus in the power and Person of the Holy Spirit. Often our minds and hearts are dulled by approaching the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in a routine and matter of fact manner. Yes, we know the story. Yet, if we really understood the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus:

• that it is the fulfillment of God’s plan
• that it is the central event by which we are saved
• that it reveals the depths of a love that can only begin to be understood in the Spirit
• that God chose to make the death of his Son necessary for our salvation
• and that our response of faith, gratitude and humility to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is proper and fitting…

if we understood what God has done for us in Christ, we too would be transformed.

As a college freshman at Ohio State, I was part of a non- denominational bible study before I experienced baptism in the Spirit. My approach and understanding of the bible at that time lacked light. I hastily read the bible study texts in a less than devout manner. However, after baptism in the Spirit these very same words leapt off the page. They enlightened my mind and fed my soul.

As we enter these most sacred days, let us pray: Come Holy Spirit! Bring light to my mind, love to my heart, boldness to my will as I ponder the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ my only true hope!

St. Paul said, For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. (Romans 1:16) There is power in the gospel! The Spirit makes this message transformative. It changes our destiny. In Christ, all things are made new (see 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Revelation 21:5) Let us never let our faith be dulled by routine, distracted by the world or quenched by the discouraging words of our day.

Jesus is Lord! We will never get bored! Trust Him!


In Christ,
Fr. Bob Franco