#MyMassTakeaway: Pentecost

Today’s the feast of Pentecost.

Find the Mass Readings here: Pentecost, May 20, 2018

My Mass Takeaway is a devotion in which we share our Mass thoughts and inspirations with each other (mostly on Instagram) using the hashtag: #MyMassTakeaway.

My favorite part about this devotion is reading the widely varied reflections from the people who participate. The Lord speaks to us all in amazingly unique ways.

Make sure you’re following the hashtag so you don’t miss this – it happens every Sunday!

Do you want to join? Just use the hashtag #MyMassTakeaway. On Sunday afternoons I collect all the posts that I can and compile them here for extra love and sharing.

This week’s collection is amazing, make sure you read them all, and follow the participants for more great inspiration!

My takeaway:

View this post on Instagram

Did you watch the Royal Wedding? Did you wish that you were invited? Imagine what you would wear? What you would say to the royal couple? I went to a Royal Wedding today. I picked out an outfit with extra care than my everyday T-shirt and jeans. I ate at the royal Banquet table and I had time for a one-on-one chat with the King Jesus is the King. And in the Eucharist He gives His whole self to His Bride, the Church. Every single one of us is invited. He longs to be united with us in this Holy Sacrament. We're more than just guests at this most important ceremony. We're the center of Jesus' love and attention. And He thirsts for us to return His love. To make Him the focus of our life. It's the greatest, most astounding wedding of all. What will you wear? What will you say to your King? But most importantly, will you attend? Not just with your physical presence, but with your whole mind and heart. At the Mass, you're part of the Royal Couple. You're the bride. And Jesus, the King, the Bridegroom, is waiting to love you with the greatest love of all. #royalwedding2018 #MyMassTakeaway #mysundaybest #holymass #mycatholiclife #catholicsonline

A post shared by Sara Estabrooks (@tojesussincerely) on May 20, 2018 at 7:18am PDT

Thoughts from my blogging friends:

View this post on Instagram

Pentecost Sunday 🔥🔥🔥 “The language of the Holy Spirit is a language of love” – from Father’s homily at vigil Mass. It’s so true! Pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you and your spouse, that He may give you both the wisdom to know God’s will and the strength and the courage to do it. Ask for the grace to love totally, freely, faithfully, and fruitfully. We can do great things with the power of the Holy Spirit, and He can transform our marriages. The Holy Spirit can give us the grace to love each other as God loves us.🔥 Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. ❤️ #mymasstakeaway #mysundaybest #pentecostsunday

A post shared by Jen & Logan (@surprisedbymarriage) on May 19, 2018 at 5:26pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

A touch of red and some backlight = it’s Pentecost Sunday!👌🏻A beautiful feast day! Celebrating so many gifts and fruits we receive from the Holy Spirit today; they’re so necessary in our vocation of marriage and so necessary in the work we do everyday — whatever that might be for you. ❤️ They’re concrete things (things like gentleness, faithfulness, peace, kindness, wisdom & understanding). “Let’s ask ourselves: are we open to the Holy Spirit, do I pray to him to enlighten me, to make me more sensitive to the things of God? And this is a prayer we need to pray every day, every day: Holy Spirit may my heart be open to the Word of God, may my heart be open to good, may my heart be open to the beauty of God, every day.” – Pope Francis #pentecost #theholyspirit #sunday #feastday #catholicwife #catholiclife #vocation #wiws #mysundaybest #mymasstakeaway

A post shared by Annie Deddens (@catholicwifecatholiclife) on May 20, 2018 at 6:26am PDT

View this post on Instagram

"There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone." 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Isn't it amazing to think how God gives each one of us unique gifts and ways to serve Him and the Church? . . And as I get older, I'm starting to see more and more that it's important to not only serve others with your gifts, but to encourage and recognize the different gifts in others. . . I do not have the gift of administration and organization, but my sister-in-law does. The leader of my mom's group is so generous with her time. And another friend always remembers to send a text when I have an appointment or am going through something difficult just to let me know she's praying for me. Let's call this out! Let's own our own God-given gifts AND recognize the different ones we see in others…instead of saying, "I wish I could have what she has…" . . So my challenge for this week for myself and you: How can we acknowledge the gifts of others this week? . . "O most blessed Light divine, Shine within these hearts of yours, And our inmost being fill!" Veni, Sancte Spiritus #mysundaybest with @rosiehill425 #pentecost #mymasstakeaway with @tojesussincerely

A post shared by Jessica (@sweetlittleones) on May 20, 2018 at 7:31am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Such a great celebration today – the Descent of the Holy spirit! You can see how important that was, gave the apostles the courage needed to evangelize the whole world. They needed that, they couldn't do it without the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. And that makes a lot of sense! I am learning day by day how much need there is for guidance in my small EVERY DAY life from the Holy Spirit. As soon as I ask for guidance things turn out wonderful. I've never experienced to ask for guidance and not receive it, or ask for peace in times of worry and not receive it, or ask for love for people I didn't feel love for and received it in the most mysterious way. The only way we fail is when we forget or do not want to ask for guidance or receive it and do not follow through. +++ This week I also celebrate one year of Bible journaling, the beautiful practice through which I learned that the Word of God is undeniably, truly 'Alive and Active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) So, with a simple "Come Holy Spirit" you can not only change but BE life. Come Holy Spirit, fount of life and mercy! ❤🕊 +++ #MyMasstakeaway #pentecost #holyspirit #grace #thewordofgod #drawclosertogod #lovegod #godinspired #openjourney #religiousart #christianart #catholicartist #faith #ingridblixt #TB2G #biblejournaling #biblejournalingcommunity #stgerardparish @stgerardchurch

A post shared by Ingrid Blixt (@ingridblixt) on May 20, 2018 at 7:50am PDT

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjAO7zlgigD/?tagged=mymasstakeaway

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjAmEULg2U2/?tagged=mymasstakeaway

View this post on Instagram

So here’s the low down on Jesus & the Holy Spirit… When He came, died & went to heaven – He breathed life into their souls & gave them the forever companion in the Holy Spirit. Lucky for us, we get this same gift at baptism. But, (and there is always a but) He didn’t just give us the Holy Spirit to dwell quietly & safely within our souls He tells us to “GO FORTH”. “Ughhh, but I am not one of those bible toting, screaming at people on sidewalks to beware of hell type of people… so the whole go forth thing isn’t for me.” But girlie.. it is! You and ONLY you were specifically chosen to care for and raise the humans in your care (big and little!). God chose YOU to be the parent of your kids. The wife to your husband. All the hard times in parenting, your family, your marriage – you can rest assured that you and only you are perfectly equipped to handle it. But what about the Holy Spirit? The going forth? You JUST have to live like Jesus to go out and spread the good news [insert all the sarcasm]. Others should see your Maker when they see you. And this part is simple because St Paul gave us the blueprint. Love, be joyful, foster peace, exhibit patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control. Easier said than done. That’s where God comes in. Now, He is a gentleman. He waits to be asked. So, just pray – “Father, fill me with your Holy Spirit. Make me gentle, kind…[insert any fruit of the spirit for which you are lacking]” And He will. And then go out and love those kids of yours, your family, your husband, your coworkers. Be patient and gentle with strangers. Be faithful when it’s hard. Defend the faith. And if you question the faith or God… seek answers. Learn how to answer the hard questions others have about Catholicism and Christianity. Then you ARE proclaiming the good news. Think of all the disciples you can make if you just touch a few lives & they each touch a few more.. (& so on). Its the little things that give glory to God… because our lives made up of much more littleness than big great moments. After all… ALL good things come from God & He wants to use you to share these fruits. #mymasstakeaway #shedidthisonherown

A post shared by Heather (@heather_yarr) on May 20, 2018 at 12:26pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Where there is unity, cohesion, and harmony, there is proof that the Holy Spirit is present. Where there is discord, anger, and fighting, the Holy Spirit is not being allowed to work. That was my Mass takeaway today. . . Then, I began applying that to parenting – more so, to lack of parenting. My older kids fight, argue, and get all up in each other’s business. As their mom, I get heated when I hear them arguing. And, until today, I never considered using their moments of discord to bring things full circle to teaching about God. . . In those moments in which I get frustrated with the umpteenth-thousandth time in which one kid yells at the other, or toys are being taken by the other, I pray I am able to maintain calm – calm enough to ask the Holy Spirit to work in our family. And, to teach and encourage my children to take a breath and ask the Holy Spirit to be present in their hearts as they learn to share, support each other, and be loving toward each other. . . Only with our willingness to embrace and accept His guidance, wisdom, and love will He be able to move within us. And, only with everyone’s collective openness to Him will we see the change for the better that this world needs. . . Do you have a favorite prayer or mantra that guides you in parenting through the squabbles? I’d love to hear! . . #catholicmom #catholicsonline #mymasstakeaway w/ @tojesussincerely #catholicsofinstagram #mydaughterbroketherosary #pictureforeffect #faith #pentecost #catholicblogger #christianblogger #beopen #bewilling #loveoneanother

A post shared by Anni Harry (@beautifulcamouflagedmess) on May 20, 2018 at 12:33pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Happy Birthday to The Church on this Pentecost Sunday! The Apostles were lit on fire and through their mission they changed the world. We are meant to do the same. We are called to follow them in spreading the news of Christ. If you ever feel lost or without purpose, just remember your mission. In your own way and with your own gifts, you are to bring light to the world. #catholic #catholiclife #catholicpilgrim #catholicsonline #pentacost #mymasstakeaway #holyspirit

A post shared by Amy Thomas (@catholic_pilgrim79) on May 20, 2018 at 11:41am PDT

Your turn:

I want to know your Mass Takeaway too! Comment with your thoughts on the readings, your pastor’s homily, or anything that struck you during your time at Mass.