Live by the SpiritHoly Spirit (Week 3) - May 20-26, 2013 Objective of the week: To recognize the gift that the Father and Jesus has given us through the Holy Spirit.
IntroductionLast week we were invited to open our hearts for the coming of the Holy Spirit in order to do His mission: to reconcile the world in God. “As the Father sent me, so I send you” (c.f. John 20:21). Jesus gave us the same trust as the Father had given Him. This week we are invited to deepen in communicating with the Holy Spirit through prayer, an intimate relationship that gives knowledge about the other person. By prayer we are in union with the Father, who is the origin of all creation; with Jesus, the divine Son of the eternal Father; and the Holy Spirit, a gift given to us in baptism, the pledge of God’s fidelity. The Holy Spirit has been given to be our teacher, companion, advocate, paraclete and comforter. He comes to plead with God in our behalf when we are weak and in our difficulty in acquiring the wisdom that Jesus had in God’s point of view. For Jesus has so much more to tell us, but it would be too much for us to bear (cf. John 16:12) and through the Holy Spirit, we can proclaim and live out our faith in God, especially in this time. As Verbum Dei, the Holy Spirit gave us a very special gift, the charism of prayer and preaching. And as Verbum Dei, aren’t we challenged to make the truth known to the world? How can we bring the world to listen to the Holy Spirit? Is it possible to build the kingdom of God right at this moment, where we are now and in this world of today? Yes, it’s possible and we can, as the song goes, “Live by the spirit and change the whole world with our lives renewed… in all that we say and do.” MondayThe Holy Spirit speaks to us John 16:12-15 12 “I have much more to tell you, but now it would be too much for you to bear. 13 When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears, and will tell you of things to come. 14 He will give me glory, because he will take what I say and tell it to you. 15 All that my Father has is mine; that is why I said that the Spirit will take what I give him and tell it to you. Reflection Are you patient in your prayer, eager to stop and listen from the silence to what the Holy Spirit will say today, knowing that it is Jesus Himself who speaks to you? Or are you worried with your daily tasks, preparing your schedule, your thoughts drifting and falling asleep? TuesdayThe Holy Spirit helps us to pray Romans 8:26-27 26 In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express. 27 And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will. Reflection Do you remain still in silence; are you patient in your prayer as the Holy Spirit helps you to pray? Or do you want to take control? Is your heart restless, searching and asking from God what you do not need? What will you ask today from God? WednesdayThe Holy Spirit leads us to listen Acts 8:26-31 26 An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get ready and go south to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This road is not used nowadays.) 27-28 So Philip got ready and went. Now an Ethiopian eunuch, who was an important official in charge of the treasury of the queen of Ethiopia, was on his way home. He had been to Jerusalem to worship God and was going back home in his carriage. As he rode along, he was reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that carriage and stay close to it.” 30 Philip ran over and heard him reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 The official replied, “How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?” And he invited Philip to climb up and sit in the carriage with him. Reflection Recognize today that, like Philip, the Holy Spirit leads you to listen to others asking for answers to understand what you already know about the Word, the Bible, Jesus and the love of the Father. Are you available to help others understand, to teach them how to pray, to meet Jesus? ThursdayThe Holy Spirit helps us to obey to His call Acts 9:11-17 11 The Lord said to him, “Get ready and go to Straight Street, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he might see again.” 13 Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and about all the terrible things he has done to your people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who worship you.” 15 The Lord said to him, “Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel. 16 And I myself will show him all that he must suffer for my sake.” 17 So Ananias went, entered the house where Saul was, and placed his hands on him. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord has sent me — Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Reflection What stops you from being obedient to the call of the Holy Spirit? What fears stop you from going out to meet others? Fear of rejection, fear to leave your comfort zone, fear of the unknown, fear of looking like a fool, fear of not knowing what to say? FridayThe Holy Spirit lets us experience His fruits in you Romans 5:1-5 Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 He has brought us by faith into this experience of God's grace, in which we now live. And so we boast of the hope we have of sharing God's glory! 3 We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance brings God's approval, and his approval creates hope. 5 This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to us. Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. Reflection So many gifts: joy, kindness, self-control... If today, you don't experience these gifts from the Holy Spirit, why don't you ask for them? Ask and receive; when you receive them, recognize and give thanks to God listening to you and pouring out His Spirit on you. SaturdayEmpowered by the Holy Spirit, we create His Kingdom Matthew 7:24-27 24 “So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain poured down, the rivers overflowed, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. 26 “But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain poured down, the rivers overflowed, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!” Reflection It is summer, time to go to the beach resorts. It is also time to prepare for the rains that will come, to find the true Rock, Jesus, and build your house of prayer on Him. Put into practice today what the Spirit asks you. What words of action stand out in your prayer? Just do it. SundayTrinity SundayFirst Reading:
Proverbs 8:22-31 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8 Second Reading: Romans 5:1-5 Gospel Reading: John 16:12-15 Comments are closed.
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