Dear La Côte family and friends,
Pentecost is a principal feast in the Church calendar. We celebrate the beginning of the Church’s mission in the world, and we celebrate new beginnings. We remember the disciples, once full of fear and uncertainty, suddenly filled with courage, joy, and purpose through the gift of the Holy Spirit. What began in a single room in Jerusalem became a message of hope that reached people from every nation and language. Pentecost reminds us that God’s Spirit is alive and active, bringing light where there is fear and unity where there is division.
One of the most beautiful parts of Pentecost is the miracle of understanding. People from many different places heard the disciples speaking and each person understood the message in their own language. In a world that feels sharply, brutally divided by differences, Pentecost shows us that God’s love is available to everyone. The Spirit breaks down barriers and invites us to see one another not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters.
Pentecost is also a reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they are guided by faith. The disciples were not powerful or perfect, yet God worked through them to bring hope, healing, and encouragement to others. In the same way, each of us is called to use our own gifts — kindness, generosity, patience, creativity, and love — to enrich the lives of those around us.
The fire of Pentecost is not a fire that destroys, but one that renews. It is the warmth of God’s presence that inspires us to live with joy and confidence. Even in difficult times, the Holy Spirit continues to strengthen hearts, renew communities, and remind us that we are never alone.
As we celebrate Pentecost, may we open our hearts to the Spirit’s guidance. May we be people who speak words of hope, build bridges of peace, and share the joy of God’s love wherever we go. Pentecost reminds us that with faith, courage, and the Spirit of God within us, new life and new possibilities are always beginning.
Betty Talbot
