Do I know my role?

Homily

Solemnity of Pentecost

24 May 2026

St. Ann Catholic Church in Prairie Village, KS

AMDG

Do I know my role?

It's been three years since Travis Kelce screamed into a microphone - shut your mouth and know your role, you jabroni!  I didn't know what a jabroni is, cause I'm not a WWE wrestling fan.  I guess a jabroni is a fool, one who talks but can't back it up.  In the drama of wrestling, it's always the villain who shows bravado but is overcome by the hero.  Kelce directed it toward the Cincinnati mayor, who had nicknamed our stadium 'Burrowhead' and hinted that Patrick Mahomes should call Joe Burrow his 'daddy.'  The Chiefs got the narrow win, and went on to win the Super Bowl.

Do I know my role?

We all know that love is more than words, more than feelings.  Love is action.  Today the Church celebrates the windy and fiery action of the Holy Spirit, the love at the heart of God and all reality, bringing the Church to birth and launching Her mission with power!  Pentecost is ultimate - the culmination of our 50 days of celebrating a love stronger than death, a love that has been poured into your heart and mine.  A love that obligates us to know our role, and 

The power that conquers the evil of the world is not a technological, or economic, or military, or political power.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead.  It is a power that has been entrusted to you, made His dwelling with you, and that burns within you until you accomplish your purpose.  

Do I know my role?  

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.  Out of everything that Jesus ever did or said, this one bothers me the most.  The salvation of the world depended upon Jesus knowing His role, and accomplishing His purpose.  Now it depends on me.  Now it depends on you.  What was Jesus thinking?

He wanted to show how much He believes in you, by assigning you a participation in His paschal mystery, a critical part in the ultimate victory over evil and death, that only you can accomplish.  He trusts you as much as His Father trusted Him.  Try to talk him out of it.  He's really bad at taking no for an answer.

So Pentecost is my Christmas and Holy Week.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you.  The same Spirit that created everything out of nothing, life from non-life, that breathed an immortal soul into every human person ever conceived, who conceived Jesus in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin, who raised Jesus from the dead, and forgives your sins, now dwells in all His fullness in you, so that you can know and accomplish your purpose.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.  

Do I know my role?  Will I play my part? 

+mj