Below is a video and text of this past weekend's homily.  For links to transcripts from previous weekend homilies click here:

Pentecost Sunday

Fr. Paul Cochran, S.J.

May 24, 2026

If you’ve traveled to a different part of Sacramento, or a different part of the state, or nation or event to another country. One of the things that you really long for is to hear your own language being spoken. Whether it’s English, Spanish, Tagalog, French, German, whatever is your primary language your ears kind of always has a tune for it. And when you do hear, that familiar language, a language that is calling to you. You kind of gravitate to that person or persons even though you’re in a different place. And the Gift of the Spirit is the gift is the gift that both allows you to be united with those people but also to welcome and to be part of another group of people.

The early church was ecstatic at the resurrection; they were a little sadden at the Ascension because Jesus is taken away. But the gift of the Spirit, the promise of the spirit, allows us to regain that hidden joy, that resurrection joy.  Then said, All. Then, we are able just one another, to see in each person in me, God. At times, at full speed ahead, sometimes then a little slower speed. But the gift of the spirit, I think, is one of the greatest things. Is it? the world, and to be agents of change in the world. Quite often, the world's value, conflict with glitten's value. And seek power and riches, honors. Amass them, and to kind of hold them all. Just tradition, especially a Christian, religion, mission. Jesus. Passion. Be with the poor, whether poor in spirit or... Often God is alive and fully at work.

It makes the gift of the spirit to give us the nudge or the push, kind of break out our own little circle. to take the chance of being rejected, as well as the risk of being rewarded. Of God. Oh, one... Long, people. It's the gift of the spirit that changes the ordinary, Extraordinary. It’s the gift of the spirit that allows water, once blessed, to be a blessing to all who touch it, all the feeling, to any in pain, the automobiles, the religious items that we bless with holy water. It’s the gift of the spirit that lets us uses, ordinary oil, olive oil, and once blessed, the heat, and healing, to bring comfort and strength, for ill, to use it in confirmation, in ordination. The gift of the Spirit, that allows ordinary bread and wine, to become the extraordinary body Jesus Christ. to encourage us, come straight, to go back, to be sent into our homes and neighborhoods, wherever we go. Gifted the spirit that enables us to grow. to be the men and the men that God needs for His world.

On this day of heaven, we rejoice with the worldwide church. We rejoice with that early church. That met in houses. Met in the catacombs, perhaps, at times, of persecution. We rejoice that their faith was strong. We stand on their shoulders because of the gift of the Spirit. We also ask that the gift of the Spirit, make our shoulders strong for those coming after us. that their faith, be truthful, and especially their love, may be strengthened by the witness we give, the words that we use, and the very presence of ourselves to the world. Let us pray for that precious, powerful gift of the Holy Spirit that unites, helps us to see where the world needs to be changed. And to bring change, to bring justice, forgiveness, compassion to God's people.