One of the signs of the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit is holy boldness. Boldness is the opposite of timidity. It means to tell all in truth, to pour out, like water being poured out from a glass without arrogance and pride. The disciples who had experienced the empty tomb, encountered the Risen Lord and had received the fire of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, had been emboldened.
They received the boldness to proclaim Christ with bold and compelling preaching and witness to him with bold deeds, bold relationships and bold initiatives. They were a new creation, freed from individual selfishness, competitiveness, pride and ambition, and now centred on Christ.
This year the great feast of Pentecost falls on June 8. At Pentecost we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Church which boldly spreads throughout the world and across the centuries. Many of the stories in this issue of The Far East are Pentecostal stories.
They are stories of power, courage and holy boldness.
Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that St Columban was almost 50 years of age when he boldly set out from his native Ireland as a pilgrim for Christ to the continent of Europe.
Next year 2015, we commemorate the 1400th anniversary of the death of St Columban. A pilgrimage is being organized for Australians and New Zealanders to boldly follow in the footsteps of St Columban across Europe.
Pakistani woman, Bilquis Sheikh, boldly followed the call of Christ to be baptised a Christian and witness to her faith in Christ. Columban Fr Shay Cullen boldly founded the PREDA Foundation in the Philippines to rescue youth such as Reggie, from imprisonment and exploitation.
Despite being born with a hearing disability and speech impediment, Columban Fr Tom Rouse boldly followed his call to be a missionary priest. He was able to turn this disability around to become a gift as he learnt the Fijian language and spent many years there. Columban Fr Frank Hoare also writes from Fiji about the importance of trying to live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than our own prejudices and impetuousness.
The powerful earthquake in Iquique in northern Chile and the devastating fires in the hills and ravines of the city of Valparaiso, also in Chile, both occurred in areas where Columbans work. Columban missionaries boldly live and work across the globe in many situations, often with the possibility of natural disasters.
Japanese Diocesan priest, Fr Isamu Hirata, boldly risked his life during the Second World War visiting and comforting foreign prisoners of war in a prison camp in Japan. He was able to courageously confront the dreaded Kempei, the notorious military police.
The feast of Pentecost is a time for all of us to reflect on the Holy Spirit indwelling in our lives and shining forth in holy boldness. We use this opportunity also to encourage our readers to boldly support Columban missionaries everywhere through our Mid-Year Appeal.
Fr Dan Harding
TFE@columban.org.au