The Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2021 fittingly fell on the day that the Church throughout the world celebrated Pentecost. The day that the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples with a strong, driving wind and tongues of fire, empowering them to go out into the world, embodying the peace, love and truth of Jesus Christ. As they went, each disciple began speaking a new language so that people from all over the world could hear and understand the Gospel of God. When I think of this scene, I sometimes picture a suddenly wide-open door that was previously locked. There is a flash of sunlight flooding in as the disciples burst forth from that previously dark room and run out into center of Jerusalem—similar to the way some teams pass or slap a sign that says: “Play Like A Champion Today” as they blast out of the locker room onto the field or into the arena.

In the second reading for Pentecost Sunday, St. Paul, after naming the fruits of the Spirit that should accompany every person who bears the name and loving presence of Jesus Christ in the world—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—exhorts the Galatians saying: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). I think that would be a fitting closing line for any pump-up talk given by a coach for any group of athletes. And Paul, who was familiar (perhaps even at home) with the games and contests of the Greco-Roman world, who when “coaching” the many communities entrusted to his care, would often use athletic imagery to describe the Christian life.

For example, to the Corinthians he rhetorically asks: “Don’t you realize that the runners in the Stadium, all of them run, but only one gets the medal? You are to run in such a way as to win” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

So, I thought it made total sense when I learned from Sarah, Director of the Vincent Library here at STM, that the New International Version translation of the line about following the Spirit in Galatians 5:25 reads: “If we live in the spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” It’s a whole different way of looking at it isn’t it? Whether we are runners in a race or teammates in a workout, to keep in step with one another is a bit different from following someone. Have you ever experienced that moment, whether walking, running, swimming or cycling with someone when you were suddenly in stride, or on the same step? It’s a neat feeling. There’s a rhythm to it; you’re completely in synch, as if you were one body. Of course, we ought always to be prepared to follow Jesus Christ and be ready to discern and respond to the promptings of his Holy Spirit. But once we have made that choice, we would do well to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, to embody the Spirit, to let the Spirit take over. Whether the Spirit moves forward, takes us on a turn or switches back, whether the Spirit speeds up or slows down—we would do well to go stride for stride and keep in step with the Spirit. It’s freeing. It’s inspiring. It reminds us we’re not alone in whatever life throws at us.

So, let us pray for our grads that wherever they go and whatever they do, they will ennoble the world with the fruits of the Holy Spirit and that they—and all of us with them—will “live in the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit.”

Today is the last Running on Faith for the 2020-2021 school year. Running on Faith will return at the start of the Fall 2021 semester. Thank you for reading!