From the Friars: If Onlys

The tradition of nine days of prayer, a novena, has its origin in today’s first reading. After Jesus’ Ascension to His Father, the Apostles “devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” They waited nine days in the upper room for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

We usually pray novenas for some particular intention, for something we hope will happen or maybe not happen. Every moment of our lives we are waiting for something, looking forward to or dreading something in the future.

Many books have been written about waiting. But one important point is that we should not waste time waiting for something that will never happen. This could be called waiting for “If Onlys”. Some examples: I will be happy if only I win the lottery, or find the perfect spouse or job or house, or become successful in whatever way. The illusion could be something very religious. If only I could be a priest or a nun then I would be fulfilled. Even if the “if only” comes true, we are not satisfied and a new one takes its place. We end up wasting a good part of our lives in anxious anticipation of a utopia that does not exist in this world.

In the upper room there was one heart that was not waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Immaculate Heart of Mary was already full of the Holy Spirit. Her prayer was no doubt for the infant Church, but she also had a deep “if only” longing. If only she could see the face of her glorified Son, then she would find eternal peace and joy. This is the one thing truly worth waiting for. This is the longing that the Holy Spirit puts int our souls. “My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?” (Psalm 42:2)

Let this novena before Pentecost be a time of devoting ourselves to prayer with Our Blessed Mother, that the Holy Spirit will inspire in us holy desires for the things worth waiting for.

God bless you.

— Fr. Peter