As I write this, two important and potentially earth-shaking events are taking place in our midst. The first, concerns us as Catholics, who are presently in the Easter Season waiting with hopeful expectation for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The second concerns us as people living in Taiwan who are viewing the meeting of KMT officials with the Mainland Chinese Communist Government with anxious eyes – wondering what the future will bring.

These two happenings were very much in my heart as I prepared to leave for Mass on Sunday. How will we pray for the people and future of this beautiful and troubled Island, I asked myself as I was already formulating some prayers in my heart. Alas, at the time of the Prayer of the Faithful, the usual, already prepared, “pre-packaged” prayers were read. There was no mention of the “signs of the times” and what was uppermost in the heart of the everyday people of Taiwan and their hope, fear, anxiety, and desire for peace.

This is not the first time this has happened. Whenever there is some kind of political “crisis” or need our churches utter no public prayer. Why are our pulpits silent about the current situation in Taiwan and why was no prayer given/heard? Is praying for the country seen as mixing religion with politics rather than what it really is: true concern for how the Reign of God will manifest itself in this troubled time? If one answers “yes” and thinks that Catholics must avoid any association with “politics,” then we must ask if the Gospel is relevant to and makes a difference in the daily lives of Christians/Catholics here in Taiwan? In other words, why believe? If the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost means only a coming to those gathered in Church with no effect on the rest of the human community what difference does it make to be a follower of Jesus?

During this Easter Season, the Mass readings have been from the Acts of the Apostles. They have been our daily guides in showing how the power of the Spirit moved those first disciples of Jesus to go beyond their boundaries and filled them with courage to proclaim the Gospel and the difference it makes in people’s lives. This meant acknowledging the hopes, fears, sufferings, desires, etc. that people face everyday and bringing them to prayer not with “prepared” speech but with the affectivity that only comes when the spirit touches our hearts and cries out for us in our need (Romans). This same spirit is to be ours in the Sunday assembly of the faithful. Would that we had the courage to cry out for what we need.

At the end of his homily last Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI echoed the words of Pope John Paul II, which were first given to us by Jesus, “Do not be afraid.” As Pentecost approaches, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will give us Catholics the courage to pray publicly not only for our religious leaders but for the leaders of our beautiful Island – Formosa. May we realize that praying publicly for the elected leaders in Taiwan is not a political statement but rather the realization that baptized Christians are to be responsible citizens of their country and pray and work for peace and justice.