Holy Spirit Catholic Church

04/22/2025

Holy Spirit Catholuc Church in Whitehall, Ohio will offer a Mass for Pope Francis on Thursday at 7pm.

02/12/2025

WANTED
Blood Donors
Today February 12, 2025
No appointment needed
Just walk in at Holy Spirit Church
4383 E Broad St
Columbus, OH 43213
We will be here till 3:30

11/22/2024

Reflection for Christ the King
By Deacon George Zimmermann

​This Sunday is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Feast of Christ the King. Next Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new liturgical year. It is year “C” in the three year cycle and our readings switch from Mark to Luke. This week however the Gospel is from John (Jn. 18: 33b-37) It is the story of Jesus before Pilate where Pilate asks Jesus if he is a king.
​This is another reading that reminds me of the rite of Baptism. In the rite, there is a second anointing after the pouring of the water. The celebrant prays, “God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.” The roles of Priest, Prophet and King are referred to as the “triple office” of Christ. The office of king is referred to in this Sunday’s Gospel and Pilate takes it all the wrong way. Another king would be a threat to Pilate, but Jesus is not a political king. Jesus’ kingdom is a spiritual one, not a political one.
​In the Old Testament, priests, prophets and kings were anointed to begin those offices. What does it mean to be anointed as priest, prophet and king? Priests act as a bridge between us and God. They pray, say the Mass, perform the sacraments etc. They sacrifice a “normal” life style to help bring us to holiness. We then try to bring that holiness, that link to God to our communities and cities. We make sacrifices to serve in different church ministries, to help those in need, to visit the sick and homebound, and many other ministry type activities.
​As prophets we are called to bring the word of God to others through our words and actions. We learn about our faith, develop an understanding of our faith through reading and study. Then we symbolically take our baptismal candle – symbol of the Holy Spirit and the light of Christ – to everyone we meet. Failure to do so is like putting a bushel basket over a lamp.
​In the sense we are using it, a king is a leader who serves his people. He is not worried about personal power and wealth. He is concerned about the welfare of the people and will pass laws and act in ways that are for their benefit. Christ said, “I have not come to be served, but to serve.” That is the attitude we should have in our dealings with others. We help the poor, the needy, and the sick in both physical and spiritual ways. Christ is the ultimate example because he sacrificed himself to death to save all of us.
​All of us who are baptized made a promise either ourselves or through our sponsors on the day we were baptized – “Turn away from sin and toward God.” In facing God, in facing Jesus Christ, we see the perfect model of our calling to be Priest, Prophet and King.
​The opening prayer is: Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise.
​This is my last reflection unless I choose to pick it up again sometime in the future. With Christ the King we have come to the end of five years of reflections. It has been a fun and learning experience writing them and I appreciate all who have read them over the years. Thank you, and may God bless you and hold you in the palm of his hand.

11/14/2024

Reflection for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Deacon George Zimmermann

​This Sunday’s first reading and Gospel are apocalyptic writings. Apocalyptic means “revelation” and is a style of writing filled with symbolism. It is a style of writing that would have been understood at the time it was written but not so much today. I have read commentaries on the meaning of some of these apocalyptic readings, but I fail to understand them or retain what I have read. For this week, my reflection will not be on the Sunday readings.
​I will, however, look at the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday. The response is, “You are my inheritance, O Lord!” When people pass away, they usually leave behind a will that explains where they would like their assets to go. Usually they are left to relatives and friends or sometimes to a charity, school or other organization. If the heir is still alive or the organization is still in existence, then the inheritance passes to them. The point is they receive these assets while they are still living or existing.
​When Christ died he left us our inheritance; himself – our salvation. “You are my inheritance, O Lord!” In this case, while we are still alive, we have a right to our salvation, but we do not collect our inheritance until we die, and are judged to be worthy to receive our inheritance. Receiving an inheritance from a relative or friend is pretty much automatic. To receive our inheritance from Christ we have to have lived according to Christ’s instructions.
​The dismissal from Mass is tied to this. When we were baptized we were called to take the word of God to others by both words and actions. If we live our lives according to Christ’s teaching then we are witnessing, evangelizing and teaching others. We are living our calling to be good Christians. The dismissal could be, “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life”, or “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” With either dismissal, if we leave Mass and follow that command, we will be rewarded with our inheritance.
​The opening prayer is: Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to you, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all that is good.

11/08/2024

Reflection for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Deacon George Zimmermann

​In the Gospel for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mk. 12: 38-44), Jesus talks of the showy presentations of the scribes in public and in prayer. Their goal however was sinful and Jesus says, “They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
​I recall three experiences that I think relate to this Gospel. The first was told to me by a former co-worker who once worked for a large and well-known company. His job was to travel ahead of one of the company officers to different cities and make preparations for the officer’s arrival. He had to make arrangements for special rooms, reserve special cars for him to arrive in and (my particular favorite) had to have milk brought to the room that was exactly 58o.
​The second instance involved a Charismatic priest who was invited to give a talk at our parish. He had certain “requirements” in order to come. I don’t remember them all, but one was that he had to be picked up in a Cadillac. After his talk he invited people to come forward for a “healing”. Although skeptical, I approached and stared him in the eye. He acted rather startled and looked down. My impression was he knew I saw right through him.
​The third instance was a priest speaker at a men’s conference. He gave a very rousing speech which I found very inspiring. Immediately following his talk there was a break and I took a walk through the vendor area. This priest was sitting in one of the booths that I stopped at. I overheard him talking to someone and saying, “I guess I fooled them”. No more of these conferences for me.
​Sometimes we want to impress others so much that we are blind to God. Vanity, greed, hypocrisy and the like, all blind us to God. Our actions are designed to impress others. Our focus becomes looking good, looking generous, and looking impressive. Man is easily fooled by the actions of man, but God sees through it. God can see into our heart. God can see our real intentions even if we cannot, even if we have fooled ourselves into thinking we are doing good for the sake of others; when in actuality we are trying to impress others and even trying to impress ourselves.
​In a commentary, Fr. Achille Degeest wrote, “God sees what lies in the depths of one’s being; man sees only the surface appearance. It is impossible to fool God, while it is entirely possible to fool man. If we neglect our relationship with God, we are tempted to raise ourselves in the eyes of men. Scribes and Pharisees yielded to this temptation, and in order to be esteemed, they stressed their outward expressions of piety and their knowledge. Jesus energetically denounces exhibitions of piety designed to attract people’s esteem.” We find ourselves “in the presence of appearances that do not correspond with reality, that is, in the presence of hypocrisy.
​The opening prayer is: Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep us from all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours.

10/31/2024

Reflection for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Deacon George Zimmermann

​The Gospel for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time related the story of the Scribe who asked Jesus “Which is the first of all the commandments. Jesus replied, ‘The first is this: Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Mk. 12: 28b-34)

​Some athletes have natural talent but most really have to work at it. They have an exercise regimen, they run, they learn skills, and they learn techniques and then practice them. Some watch films/videos of their opponents to learn what they do, or of themselves to see ways to improve on their performance. This is all very exhausting work.

​Good students study daily to learn their lessons. Some put in hours or even weeks of studying for final exams or for specialized tests to become a CPA, a nurse, or an attorney among others. Learning and practicing our faith is the same, but with our efforts involving loving God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength; and also throwing in our love of neighbor which is the practice necessary for loving God.

​To be successful as an athlete, a student, in our faith or in anything important in life requires hard work. It’s requires daily dedication in order to be successful. If this work is done daily, we would be physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally exhausted by the end of the day. But to attain our goals, that effort is worth more than anything.

​God, who has an unlimited capacity to love, created man with the ability to love. By our existence (through God) we are given the capacity to know God, to love him and to serve him in this life and the next, and also to love our neighbor. Capacity is defined as a person’s mental or physical ability, aptitude or skill; but not necessarily the natural ability. We need to work at it, study it, and practice it daily. It’s ordered. It’s the first two of all the commandments. It’s not a suggestion. Having different capacities, it is not easy for anyone, but it is harder for some than others. For some the idea is totally rejected. How totally sad that that is the case.

​How can we follow these two greatest commandments? First, by believing in Jesus and his message. We can only do this with the help of the Holy Spirit. Faith is not easy because as individuals we seem so insignificant at times. It’s not easy because we see suffering and sinfulness all around us. We may wonder sometimes if God is even paying attention.

​Secondly, Jesus must be a part of our conscience. Jesus must exist in our minds, hearts and souls. We must let Jesus in. Only then can we use our total capacity to love the Lord our God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength; and our neighbor as ourselves.

​The opening prayer is: Almighty and merciful God, by whose gift your faithful offer you right and praiseworthy service, grant we pray, that we may hasten without stumbling to receive the things you have promised.

10/24/2024

Reflection for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Deacon George Zimmermann

​When we have an emergency we are instructed to dial 911, and someone immediately answers and sends us help. If a ship is in trouble, the crew sends out an SOS and nearby ships or the Coast Guard respond. Individuals with medical or mobile issues can wear an emergency call button to summon help. There are many others crying out for help – minorities, immigrants, the unemployed and homeless, those being abused, the politically oppressed. They do not have a magic button to push that sends them help. They have only their voices to try to call out and bring attention to their plight.
​This Sunday’s Gospel is the story of Bartimaeous, the blind man. (Mk. 10:46-52) He was sitting along the road, begging, when he heard that Jesus was walking by. Bartmaeous must have had some knowledge or familiarity of Jesus because he called out, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” He called out to Jesus several times using the Messianic title. This indicates that he had some faith and belief in whom Jesus was. ”Have pity on me” is a prayer, a call for help. Maybe brief, but not unlike our own prayers or the prayers of those mentioned above and calling out for help.
​The encouraging thing is that Jesus heard Bartimaeous and responded to him. We pray that Jesus hears us too. “Jesus stopped and said, ‘call him’,” just as we are all called. Bartimaeous responded, just as Jesus hopes we all respond.
​The next part of the story strikes me as a type of Baptism – though there is no water. In the early church there was a pool outside the church doors. Those to be baptized would throw off their robes, (symbolically throwing off their old life) descend into the water and come out the other side where they are wrapped in a white robe, and they then entered the church. Bartimaeous “threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.” In Baptism, we receive the light of Christ. Bartimaeous received his sight. Bartimaeous’ request was, “Master I want to see”. Jesus opened his eyes to the light and Bartimaeous was told his faith had saved him. That is our prayer as well. We all want to “see” and understand in such a way that we too are saved.
​Those who ignore Christ are blind.
​Those with faith are sitting along the road.
​Those who sit but do not pray for light are just sitting by the road and everything passes them by.
​Those who recognize their blindness and call out (pray) will receive the light, will get up and walk
​​with Christ.
​The opening prayer is: Almighty ever-living God, increase our faith, hope, and charity, and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise.

10/22/2024

10/17/2024

Reflection for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Deacon George Zimmermann

​When looking for guidance we go to a person who has experienced our problem and can give advice, a different perspective, or refer us to another person, expert or perhaps an author. An athlete might go to a coach who has played the same position and can explain moves and techniques. A student can go to a guidance counselor who knows courses and can give advice on classes to take to aim toward a desired major or job skill. Spiritual directors act as a sounding board for those with spiritual questions. Children can go to their parents or a relative who has experienced life at the child’s age and can offer advice and guidance.
​Our lector workbook notes that on Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, the Jewish high priest entered the holy of holies and interceded to God on the people’s behalf. The second reading this Sunday (Heb. 4: 14-16) references the action of that day but in the person of Jesus Christ. “Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, but without sin.” The name “Jesus” refers to his humanity. “Son of God” points to his divinity. As true man, Jesus understands our weaknesses and our temptations. He faced human problems as he grew up. I’m sure Mary and Joseph were there to guide him in his youth. Jesus faced temptations as well, though he never gave in to sin. We know this from the temptation in the desert, but Jesus faced issues daily as he travelled around. Jesus felt tired, tested, hungry and great intense pain. He experienced disappointment, even from those he considered his friends. Jesus faced opposition from many, even those who supposedly should have known better, like teachers in the temple.
​It’s precisely because Jesus experienced trials and temptations that we can go to him as we would a coach, or a counselor or a parent. Even more so actually because of his experiences of pain and death. Jesus would know our fears of both because he experienced both; and in his divine nature Jesus knows love, mercy, and justice in their purest states. Jesus’ victory over death gives us hope that by following his advice, we can also share in his glory.
​If we are experiencing tough times, tough decisions, tough anything, let’s take the advice of the last line of the reading. “So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.”
​The opening prayer is: Almighty ever-living God, grant that we may always conform our will to yours and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart.

10/10/2024

Reflection for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Deacon George Zimmermann

​In Old Testament times, the pagan communities had certain rituals that had to be performed during their life to insure their peaceful afterlife. Some had fundamental principles or rules that had to be followed. Some prized wealth and comfortable living. The Greeks sought after and highly honored power, beauty and intellect. The more comfortable and prized you were in life, the more comfortable you would be in the afterlife, or perhaps you would be reborn into a better situation. These rules focused on self rather than on others.
​This Sunday’s Gospel (Mk. 10:17-30) tells the story of the rich man who asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The man was looking for a check list of things to accomplish that would earn him eternal life. He was acting like the pagans in their search for a comfortable afterlife. Jesus responds, “You know the commandments: You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not defraud, honor your father and your mother.” The commandments Jesus mentioned all focus on self. The rich man says, “Oh yeah, I have always observed all of those.” Jesus replies by letting him know that focusing only on himself is not going to make it. The man must be attentive to the needs of others. “Go, sell what you have, and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, then come follow me.” We recall that when Jesus called the Apostles, they dropped everything, left it behind and followed Jesus. This man was unable to do that, so he “went away sad.” Peter said, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus says, “Yes, and you will receive a hundred times more now in the present age. (But) also with persecutions and eternal life in the age to come.” Jesus never said it would be easy.
​Jesus does not condemn wealth or material possessions. He condemns the attitude this man had toward his wealth. Wealth was his desire. He focused on it, it controlled him, and he had become its slave. Jesus had friends who were wealthy – Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Joseph of Arimathea. Their attitude toward wealth was different. It had not become an idol that had become their God. Jesus never said anything to them about their wealth.
​It could also be said that the rich man said “no” to his vocation, his call from Jesus. When the man told Jesus that he had always followed the commandments, Jesus was pleased. In fact the Gospel states that Jesus loved him. Jesus then invited the rich man to “come follow me”. But the man could not, would not answer the call. The road suddenly became too difficult to follow.
​All of us have “riches” we are unwilling to give up. It may be wealth we are unwilling to share, but it doesn’t have to be money or possessions. It could be some of our time, perhaps a talent or ability. Perhaps it’s an inability to focus our eyes outward instead of inward. The rich man abandoned Jesus because of his attachment to riches. Perhaps we should ask ourselves, is there something we should abandon, something preventing us from following Jesus, which we should leave behind so we can follow Jesus more closely? It may be worth an examination of self.
​The opening prayer is: May your grace, O Lord, we pray, at all times go before us and follow after and make us always determined to carry out good works.

10/03/2024

Reflection for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Deacon George Zimmermann

​This has been a week of angel references. Last Sunday, Sept. 29th was the feast of the Archangels, though we didn’t celebrate it because the Sunday Mass always overrides whatever the daily celebration might be. Oct. 2 was the memorial for the Holy Guardian Angels. The second reading for this weekend, the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, says, “He, for a little while, was made lower than the angels.” What do we know and believe about angels?
​
​Kids (and many adults) are fascinated by the Super Heroes and by the Guardians of the Galaxy. We like them because they have special powers and because they guard and protect us from evil beings and creatures from all around the galaxy. But they are not real.

​Angels, however, are real. They are our real superheroes. They are purely spiritual creatures. Angels are invisible but can appear as a vision. They have great intelligence and free will; surpassing in perfection all visible creatures. They are servants and messengers of God. They present our prayers to God. We know they exist because they are mentioned throughout the Bible and because they are mentioned by Jesus Christ. There are nine ranks of angels including Archangels. We are familiar with some of the Archangels. Michael is a spiritual warrior and the most powerful angel. Michael is often pictured with a sword and standing on the head of a dragon or of a devil like creature. He is mentioned five times in the Bible. Gabriel announced the coming of John the Baptist to Zechariah and the birth of Jesus to Mary. Raphael is a healer. He healed Tobias in the Book of Tobit. Raphael said, “I am Raphael. One of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord.” So we know there are seven Archangels. A fourth, according to Jewish tradition, is named Uriel. Uriel is the angel with the revolving flaming sword who stood at the gate of the Garden of Eden to prevent Adam and Eve from returning to the garden.

​Other angels are mentioned without name and are probably Guardian Angels. All believers have a Guardian Angel. The Catholic Catechism states, “From birth to death, surrounded by their watchful care and intercession, beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him/her to life.” (CCC 336) Some examples of their presence are at the birth of Christ telling the shepherds, “Do not be afraid”. After Jesus’ temptation in the desert, after he told Satan to leave, angels came and ministered to him. Psalm 91:10-11 reads, “No evil shall befall you, no affliction shall come near your tent. For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.” Of course we have to listen to our angel guardian and messenger as we would listen to the voice of our conscience. In last Wednesday’s Gospel from Matthew, after placing a child in the midst of the Disciples, Jesus says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. THEIR angels. Their Guardian Angels. Their messengers to God.

​As with the saints, who we also never saw but who we believe exist in the presence of God, we can pray through the angels asking them to take our prayers to God. But if we stop believing in God, our Guardian Angel departs because we cannot send or receive a message to or from that which we don’t believe exists. Honor, but do not worship, your Guardian Angel, your constant companion.

​The opening prayer is: Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpasses the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask.