Come, Holy Spirit

~~~ Pentecost Sunday ~~~

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 104 ~~~
~~~1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13 ~~~ John 20:19-23

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

The third person of the Trinity descends upon us today.
God the Father, creator of all, is the God of the Old Testament.
God the Father sent his Son, Jesus, to live with us.
The Son came to teach us how to live in love.
Jesus sends down the Spirit to keep us inspired.

Today we celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit is like a powerful wind and a tongue of fire.
The Spirit comes as the great communicator.
The Spirit transcends all languages...
all locked doors...all closed hearts and minds.

The gift of the Holy Spirit sparks us
 to reach beyond our normal boundaries.
The Holy Spirit transforms us to see with new eyes.
The Holy Spirit breaks the chains of fear.

The Holy Spirit comes into our souls with peaceful power.

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.

There is no doubt, you have been given the gift of the Spirit.

It is for you to accept or ignore your specific gift.

How the Spirit manifests itself in your life
is unique to your soul.

Let the Holy Spirit move you
 to use your gifts.

Blessings in allowing the Holy Spirit
to manifest your gifts in your life.

O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours...

The Spirit in me honors the Spirit in you.
Peace be with you.

Triune God of Love

~~Trinity Sunday~~
~~Exodus 34:4B-6, 8-9~~Psalm Response Glory and praise for ever!~~
~~2 Corinthians 13:11-13~~John 3:16-18~~

Today is set aside by the church as Trinity Sunday
 to draw our attention to our triune God...Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Three persons in one eternal love.
God is love.
He sent the Son, Jesus, because of love.
...for God so loved the world...
Jesus returned to the Father
 so that the Holy Spirit could come and abide
 for us until the end of time.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

We are living in the glow of the love between the Trinity.
We are participating in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
As participants, we too must emulate
 the same intensity of love as exists within the Trinity communion.

God is love and if we are in fellowship with the Holy Spirit;
 we are also in fellowship with the same love.

So in honesty, do we worship the Trinity of God
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
or do we worship the prideful trinity
 of me, myself, and I?
In our world today it is easy to get confused.
It is easy to think what matters most in life is the me,
 myself, and I trinity.

God can take care of himself he doesn't need us to be like him.
But it is this great love relationship
 that exists within the Trinity
 that is very important to us.
It is this same love that we
 must extend out to those around us.

Live in peace.

The Trinity exemplifies the possibilities of peaceful living. 

If we can live in peace
 then the God of love and peace
will reside with us.

"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity."

We must hold ourselves to the same standard
of mercy, kindness, and fidelity.

These qualities are not reserved just for God;
practicing them in our lives moves us
 toward a greater relationship with God.

Our whole purpose for living
 is to make our way to heaven when we die.

The Trinity is love
 and we have been granted the invitation
 to participate in fellowship with them.

Come on let's join in the Trinity of Love.
Blessed to be invited.
~~~Live in Peace~~~

He Breathed on Them

~~~Pentecost Sunday ~~~

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 104 ~~~

~~~ 1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13 ~~~

~~~ John 20:19-23 ~~~

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

And from your celestial home

Shed a ray of light divine!

Jesus entered into the upper room passing through the locked doors.

He calmed their hearts and souls with words of peace.

And then he did something most unusual...

...he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

At that very moment the breath of Jesus...

given to him form God the Father

was passed on to us.

We received the Spirit, the same Spirit 

given in the upper room thousands of years ago.

The breath of Jesus became

 the conduit for the Spirit to come down upon us.

The wind and the fire give evidence of the force of the Spirit.

If you take away their breath, they perish

and return to their dust.

When you send forth your spirit, they are created,

and you renew the face of the earth.

Once we no longer have the breath of God to sustain us we perish.

Does that come at the hour of our death?

It is the breath of God that keeps us alive...the spirit supplies 

each breath we take.

With each breath we are being created again.

Without this life giving breath there is no possible

 way for the face of the earth to be renewed.

It is through us that the Spirit carries 

out the Divine plan for renewal of the earth.

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit

is given for some benefit.

Our gifts are brought to full fruition

 through the wind and fiery power of the Spirit. 

Let the Spirit into your life...

Let the Spirit rule in your heart...

Let the fire of Passion carry you from one day to the next.

It is both awe-inspiring and humbling

 to step back and give witness to the workings of the Spirit.

It gives me goose bumps when I recall 

the many times I have been blessed to recognize the presence of the Spirit.

The Spirit orchestrates all things good in the appropriate time.

The Spirit leaves no details to chance;

everything is put together with precision...dare I say perfection.

...we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

There is only one Spirit.

Jesus breathed it into you and into me.

There is nothing you can do to stop the power of the Spirit.

Give them joys

 that never end. Amen.

Peace from Jesus, giver of the Spirit.

Exhibition of Evidence

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 19:1-8 ~~~ Psalm 68 ~~~ John 16:29-33 ~~~

Jesus says...

 I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.

In the world you will have trouble,

but take courage, I have conquered the world.” 

We tend to overlook the truth that Jesus himself 

drew strength from the Father.

As a human, there were certainly times 

when Jesus found it comforting

or necessary to tap into the strength of the Father.

He wants us to know that we are never alone

 just as he was never alone.

The Father is never far away from our side.

This should bring us peace, 

but somehow we can get overwhelmed with life and forget.

We need this reassurance particularly when life

 feels like it is crashing in around us...

when we feel as if we are being sucked into the abyss of the world. 

Paul came with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit sweeps into their lives with a new energy.

...when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them...

Our Baptism with water is vital for our soul;

the baptism of the Holy Spirit 

may exhibit outward signs.

One is not more important than the other,

they are just different.

In a few days we will celebrate the exhibition of the Holy Spirit...

in the upper room the Spirit will come with

power and might.

People will be changed; it will be akin to a rebirth.

We have a choice either to receive and respond to the

blessings of the Holy Spirit or

we can dismiss them...turn and walk away.

What will you choose?

Allowing the Holy Spirit to take over your life 

can be a scary proposition.

Jesus says...

take courage, I have conquered the world.

Being led and fed by the Spirit can be an amazing experience.

Give it a try...

You have the rest of the week to prepare your heart to be open.

Do not be one who lets the Holy Spirit

 rush by you unnoticed.

~~~Peace~~~

...Hold On to What is Good...

~~~ Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~~~

~~~Zephaniah 3:14-18A or Romans 12:9-16 ~~~

Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

~~~ Luke 1:39-56 ~~~

The story of Mary rushing to visit Elizabeth celebrates

 the love and friendship between two women.

Mary has just experienced a profound life changing event.

 Shes goes right away to the woman carrying the one

 who will make the way for Jesus, John.

I have written about this visit in other entries on this blog

just click on the tag Visitation.

Perhaps we have these readings today

 because they highlight the workings of the Holy Spirit in the lives

 of these two devoted women...Mary and Elizabeth.

The Holy Spirit draws these women together;

one giving testimony to the other even before they utter a single word.

Nothing is impossible with/for God,

but when he 'tosses' in the Holy Spirit something fantastic happens.

Young, old, wed, virgin;

no objections are too great for the Holy Spirit.

Paul's letter to the Romans is most lovely.

He uses words like...

Let love be sincere;

hate what is evil,

hold on to what is good;

love one another with mutual affection;

anticipate one another in showing honor.

Do not grow slack in zeal,

be fervent in spirit,

serve the Lord.

Rejoice in hope,

endure in affliction,

persevere in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,

exercise hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you,

bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice,

weep with those who weep.

Have the same regard for one another;

do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;

do not be wise in your own estimation.

I have included the full reading here, so that you also may

cherish his words.

Whether or not he was thinking of Mary as he was writing;

it is easy for us to place her on our hearts as we read and reflect on it today.

Every verse offers something for us to magnify in our own life.

Which verse speaks most to you?

...hold on to what is good?

I think in our world today it is difficult to hold on to what is good.

First, we must identify the good, which may cause

 us to shift our primary focus.

Where is the good? What is really good today?

How do we define good in our personal life?

I believe, if we look for the good we will find the good.

Do not grow slack in zeal...

Zeal...

a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm

 that makes someone very eager or determined to do something.

May our zeal for the message of love and mercy

inspire us to have greater regard for others.

Mary visited Elizabeth and together 

they rejoiced in what the Spirit of God had done with their lives.

May we share in their Visitation joy.

~~~ Peace ~~~

The Doors Flew Open...

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 16:22-34 ~~~ Psalm 138 ~~~ John 16:5-11 ~~~

Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail.

Apparently they were part of God's plan 

to bring the guard and his family into the circle of believers.

The voices of Paul and Silas 

filled the entire space of the prison all night long.

The guard fell asleep leaving them alone, locked and chained.

He, of course, had no idea what was about to happen to him.

God arranges for the paths of certain people to cross

 for a reason...his reason.

Paul and Silas sang and prayed 

with such fervor that the Holy Spirit 

shook the prison with earthquake force.

The ground shook, walls tumbled, and the doors flew open.

Peter and Silas could have escaped, but that was not God's plan.

They remained in order to convert the guard and his whole family.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus

and you and your household will be saved.”

Had Paul and Silas not been put into this particular jail at this precise time,

the guard might never have been saved.

Not only was the guard himself saved but his salvation

 was also extended to his wife and to his children.

God reached out to his children...his offspring.

The salvation was now a part of his inheritance and his legacy.

The Spirit of God frees us from our chains.

The Spirit of God opens the locked doors.

The Spirit of God goes beyond the present generation.

The Spirit of God in with and in each of us just as it was in Paul and Silas.

It frees you so that you can share this love with others.

Believing reaches out to the entire household.

We are all part of the family of God.

He gives us freedom from sin.

He opens the doors of our heart to greater love.

He shakes us to the core through his mercy.

Leave the chains behind...walk through the door...

freedom from your fears and doubts

is there for you.

Blessed with freedom through the Holy Spirit.

~~~Peace~~~

In the Company of Joy

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 13:44-52 Psalm 98 ~~~ John 14:7-14 ~~~

The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

What do you think?

Does the Holy Spirit come because of our joy or

does joy come in response to the presence of the Holy Spirit?

Is the Holy Spirit always in the company of joy?

Can joy exist without the Spirit?

Sometimes you miss an opportunity at the time it is offered.

This is what happened to the Jewish people;

they had Jesus and his teachings right in their midst.

But they rejected and resisted to the point that 

the disciples moved on to the Gentiles...us.

The Gentiles were hungry to hear the words of salvation.

They rejoiced at being offered the chance to become followers of Jesus.

They had been waiting not knowing that God had them in his plan.

Even if the Jews had not rejected Jesus,

he would have reached out to them eventually.

For so the Lord has commanded us,

I have made you a light to the Gentiles,

that you may be an instrument of salvation

to the ends of the earth.

God's plan was always to include all peoples even though,

in fulfillment of the prophecies, he initially went to the Jewish people.

The disciples were beginning to experience some disillusionment.

Were they really doing the right thing?

Were they even capable of delivering the words 

of salvation promised by Jesus himself?

I can just imagine some of the Gentiles

 expressing relief at finally being allowed

 to openly confirm their beliefs.

The enthusiasm of the Gentiles

 rejuvenated the disciples, giving them new hope in their mission.

They shrugged off their rejection and moved forward.

They had to change the way they looked at the Gentiles.

They had to accept them for who they were...non-Jew.

Being filled with joy and the Spirit the disciples had renewed energy.

They once again had purpose...they had an attentive audience...

they had the commitment of the Gentiles. 

We are Blessed that the disciples did not quit.

They listened to God and reached out to the eager Gentiles.

The Love of God is great enough  to include 

all peoples who chose to believe...

all he calls by name.

~~~ Peace~~~

Pray Before You Speak

 

~~~ Romans 4:13, 16-18 ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~ Luke 12:8-12 ~~~

 

...the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.
 

In 2004 Marlo Thomas wrote a book titled

 The Right Words at the Right Time.

The book is a collection of inspiring stories written

by popular successful people.

People who were often told they would basically

never amount to very much.

 

I guess we never really know the impact our words

 may have on any one individual.

As a life long educator

 I think I have always innately known the power of words.

 

Oftentimes the words we hear as a child

will remain with us forever...

be they positive or negative words.

The spoken word is a strong vehicle to express emotions.

 

Jesus is speaking today about the words that come out of our mouths.

The words you hear or say can change your life.

Jesus is saying be careful with your choice of words.

 

He is also saying to have no fear.

If you are speaking on behalf of God the Holy Spirit

will give you the words.

It is God who makes all things work for good.

In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
 but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
Romans 8:26

  

 

The Spirit, the breath of God,

 will place upon your heart the words you are to speak.

In order for this to happen you must be one with the Spirit.

You cannot be struggling within yourself over

God's unconditional love for you.

 

You can only speak

the words of God if you have them first within your heart.

You must believe and trust in the Lord.

When you are immersed in the words of the Lord 

there is no need to be concerned

over what you will say when the time comes. 

God blesses us with his assurance of peace.

There is no need to be anxious....

the right words will spring forth from your lips.

The words of the Lord have been planted deep within your soul.

May the Holy Spirit

Bless our lips to speak His holy words.

Love Times Three

Most Holy Trinity Sunday

 

~~~ Proverbs 8:22-31~~~ Psalm 8 ~~~ Romans 5:1-5 ~~~ John 16:12-15 ~~~

 

The wisdom of God has always been present as we find in the words of Proverbs today.

Wisdom was present before all of the things of earth were created by God.

Wisdom is not physical or tangible; wisdom is of the spirit.

 

We may believe that the Spirit only came into being after the Resurrection,

but if we believe in the Trinity we must see otherwise.

The three persons in one would indicate that all persons of God

are and were in existence for all times.

 

When something is revealed to us it does not mean it was newly created.

The Trinity is so totally united as one that they merge seamlessly together.

Distinct yet one...can anything we know compare?

 

I was his delight day by day,
playing before him all the while,
playing on the surface of his earth;
and I found delight in the human race.

 

Wisdom played with God during creation.

What a joyful scene to picture.

Wisdom found us to be pleasing...delightful.

The entire Trinity loves us and desires us to be happy.

Wisdom was even the delight of God.

Playfulness and humor are part of God.

He passed this same ability on to us; in fact laughter is good for our health.

 

 

It seems that our existence is validated by the Spirit.

God found us to worthy of saving.

Jesus, doing the will of the Father,

 found us worthy of salvation through his death.

The Spirit finds us worthy to remain with us here and now.

 

Paul writes, because we have been justified by faith,

and have peace from God, we have grace.

This grace gives us the strength we need to give glory to God

in good times and bad times.

 

Paul writes to the Romans...

...affliction produces endurance,
and endurance, proven character,
and proven character, hope,
and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

 

We are the bearers of hope to all of the world because we have been loved.

We have been loved by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

We are loved uniquely by the Trinity.

Three is stronger than one.

 

Whenever you see something that represents three...a tripod...a tricycle...etc.

remember that you are loved times three...

You are loved by the Mystery of Trinity.

Seeker of Wisdom

~~~ Sirach 1:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 93 ~~~ Mark 9:14-29 ~~~

 

It seems fitting that immediately following Pentecost we have these readings

 from Sirach on Wisdom.

Wisdom is typically referenced in the feminine form.

All wisdom comes from the one all-powerful God.

 

All wisdom comes from the LORD...

It is the LORD; he created her through the Holy Spirit,
has seen her and taken note of her.

 

Wisdom is generated through the Holy Spirit.

Wisdom is a gift we can consistently pray to receive more abundantly.

We can never have too much wisdom or enough wisdom.

Acquiring wisdom is an ongoing process.

We can never possess sufficient wisdom.

Wisdom is a deep understanding of people and things.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the grace to see things at a deeper level.

It is the Spirit that gives us insight where before it did not exist.

It is the Spirit that gives a deeper more profound understanding of our existence.

 

In looking back at the many readings from the Acts of the Apostles

it becomes clear that when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples they were changed.

The Spirit gave them courage and conviction like they never had before.

It was the power of the Holy Spirit that gave them healing abilities.

It was the same Holy Spirit that inspired them

 to continue to spread the word about Jesus

when they faced adversity.

 

 

Even though the disciples tried to expel demons from the young boy

they were not successful.

Jesus says...

 Everything is possible to one who has faith.

 

But he goes on to explain that sometimes it actually takes more than faith.

He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

 

Jesus indicates that the predisposition to healing is rooted in prayer.

Your heart must be in a place of humble prayer.

It is through wisdom that one would make the connection

between faith and prayer.

They work together to produce positive results.

Jesus had the necessary wisdom to work wonders.

 

 I pray for a deeper understanding that comes through deeper wisdom.

WISDOM

one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Wind Fire Spirit Presence

~~~ Pentecost Sunday ~~~

 

~~Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11~~Psalm 104~~1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13~~John 20:19-23~~

 

And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

For fifty days we have been eagerly awaiting the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was not born in the closed locked room that day.

The Holy Spirit was officially sent down to us as promised by Jesus.

 

While Jesus was hear on Earth he was the presence of God.

After his Ascension into heaven,

it was necessary for the Holy Spirit to become an integral part of our world.

Once the force of the Holy Spirit became known

it is also evident that God would never leave us alone.

 

When the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at the time of his baptism,

it was perceived as a peaceful dove.

There was no powerful wind blowing.

There were no tongues of fire.

It was the Father validating the public life of Jesus.

I believe, Jesus was guided in his ministry through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was doing all that the Father had sent him to do,

but it is hard to believe that the Holy Spirit was not involved as well.

 

Jesus did not need to have the Holy Spirit descend as a powerful being.

 

Those who were huddled together in the upper room that day,

they absolutely needed to see, hear, and feel the power of the Spirit.

There was no doubt that the Spirit had descended upon them.

 

They saw the Spirit coming from the sky.

They heard the sound of the strong wind.

They felt the wind swirling around them passing through the entire house.

They then saw something more vivid than imaginable...

tongues of fire...detached individual flames.

These burning spear of fire rested above their own heads.

This fire did not burn or consume them.

Imagine how speechless and awe struck they all must have been at the same time.

This experience added the huge emotional component.

 

Our brain tends to remember best those events heavily laden in emotions.

This event would forever be remembered;

it was indelibly recorded

in their brains.

 

Even as we read it today we can picture in our mind what it might have been like that day.

We may not be able to capture the emotions first hand, but we can

identify with the sensory details.

 

 

The coming of the Holy Spirit made it possible for all peoples

to hear God's message of love.

They each heard in their native tongue;

which astounded both the speakers and their audience.

 

Perhaps the real message here is that the

 peace and love from God is not language specific.

 

Jesus made visible the attributes of God in flesh and blood.

The Holy Spirit makes possible the essence of

Jesus to remain with us.

The Spirit continues to work in and through us here on Earth today.

The Spirit is the living God among us.

The Spirit bring a whole array of gifts for us to use.

 

The Peace of God is with us until the end of the ages.

Spirit Speak: My Heart is Ready

 

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 17:15, 22—18:1 ~~~ Psalm 148 ~~~ John 16:12-15 ~~~

 

The Spirit of truth is dwelling with each of us.

Sometimes I wish that telling the truth would easily

be determined by some visible sign.

When I think of how many have lied about crimes committed,

it causes me to long for a fail safe method for determining the truth.

 

Paul reveals the truth to the people of Athens,

yet they seem to be content with their false beliefs.

 

The God who made the world and all that is in it,
the Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands...

Simply appearing to be religious does not imply that you have

 a grasp on the truth about God.

We worship God not in the statues made in his honor,

but we worship God because the truth is that he is the Creator of all

above heaven and earth.

'...it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything...'

It is God who has so orchestrated the world...

so that people might seek God,
even perhaps grope for him and find him...

There is a desire deep within our soul longing

for the truth about this entity we call God.

There is a missing piece in our heart

than can only be filled by God himself.

Many search and search in vain because they do not realize

that the void in their life is accepting the truth about God.

The truth that he does exist; that he is real.

 

For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’

 

...we are the offspring of God...

He created us in his image...we are his adopted children.

 

When Paul proceeded to reveal the truth of the Resurrection

of Jesus from the dead;

this spiritual group of people decided

they had other things

they would rather be doing.

They offered their excuses and turned away.

Many times we actually do not want to hear the truth.

The truth can be painful.

But the truth can also set you free.

“We should like to hear you on this some other time.”

In reality this was just a ploy devised to remain in their current beliefs.

Paul moved on and respected their request.

In order to accept the truth our heats must be primed and ready to receive.

The time was not right the day Paul was preaching in Athens.

These people needed more time but Paul needed to keep moving.

Paul only had so much time to keep the message

of the Lord alive and growing.

 

 

Jesus tells the disciples there is so much more

I want to tell you,

but I cannot at this time.

He promises to reveal more and more of his truths through the Spirit.

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.

The Spirit continues to reveal truths about God even today.

Every time the words of Jesus or verses from the bible

 make more sense to you, that is the work of the Spirit.

 

The Spirit works in each of us as our hearts are opened

and readied to handle more of the Divine Truths.

 

The Blessings of Easter...

the Spirit continues to reveal truths about God.

God is so complex that the Spirit has infinite

possibilities to reveal to us.

I pray to always be open to the revelation of new truths about God.

The Spirit reveals what is of Jesus and declares them to us as needed.

Released by the Spirit

 

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 16:22-34 ~~~ Psalm 138 ~~~ John 16:5-11 ~~~

 

No matter if you feel imprisoned and your heart feels chained.

The Holy Spirit can set you free.

 

Do not be afraid the Advocate will come to protect you.

Do not despair when you are restrained.

The Spirit of God resides within you.

The same Spirit that continues to pour forth the peace of Christ.

The same Spirit that shakes prison cells, breaks chain, and unlocks doors.

This Spirit is the one who gives sight to believers.

This Spirit allows you to see the reflection of your soul as God sees it.

 

This is the Spirit that converts and saves.

The same Spirit that was with Paul so many years ago.

 

 

Yesterday we saw the conversion of Lydia, the dealer of purple;

today we see the conversion of the prison guard.

 

In both cases  Paul and his companions were cared for and fed a meal.

The Spirit draws out the best in us.

The Spirit fills us with such love that we must freely give it to others.

The Spirit fills us with humble gratitude.

 

'...trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.'

 

The prison guard no longer had reason to tremble in fear.

The prison guard was transformed.

The prison guard was granted peace.

The prison guard was forever a new man.

 

“Believe in the Lord Jesus
and you and your household will be saved.”

 

His belief brought salvation to not only himself,

but to his whole household.

 

Our generous God invites all to believe in his saving power.

 

The Easter Blessing...

freedom from fear in the Spirit.

Instruction and Recollection by the HS

~~~ Sixth Sunday of Easter ~~~

 

~~Acts of the Apostles 15:1-2, 22-29~~Psalm 67~~Rev 21:10-14, 22-23~~John 14:23-29~~

 

 

With Pentecost only a few weeks away,

we are beginning to more emphasis on the workings of the Holy Spirit in our readings.

We are being reminded that the Holy Spirit was sent down from God.

This is the same Holy Spirit that comes down to us today.

 

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.

 

The Father sends down the Holy Spirit on behalf of Jesus,

because he willed it to be done.

The power of the Holy Spirit is that even after Jesus

is no longer physically teaching his followers,

 the Holy Spirit does continue teaching.

 

I hope you have seen evidence of the workings

of the Holy Spirit throughout your own life.

Every time you have one of those 'AHA' moments

while reading or hearing the scriptures.

That is the Holy Spirit.

Each time something you hear in a homily that makes you pause;

thing it was meant just for you.

That is the Holy Spirit.

 

But then we hear that the Holy Spirit has another role in our spiritual life.

The Holy Spirit comes to remind us of everything that Jesus

preached while he was here.

 

In other words do not be anxious about not being able to remember

everything you hear or read about God.

The Holy Spirit will gently remind you of the words of Jesus.

It may be a subtle thought that comes into your heart just when you need it.

The right words come to you to share with a person in need or troubled.

 

 

The Holy Spirit is our personal Advocate...

the Holy Spirit is for you and me.

The Holy Spirit is alive and with us now in 2013.

 

Open your heart; for the power of the Holy Spirit is coming very soon.

Let yourself fully experience the Pentecost experience

by preparing today.

May you be blessed with a welcoming heart.

The Easter Blessing of the residing presence of the Holy Spirit.

Only Through the Power of God

~~~ Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena ~~~

 

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 14:5-18 ~~ Psalm 115 ~~~ John 14:21-26 ~~~

 

Do not be satisfied with little things,

 because God wants great things. Letter T127

The human heart is always drawn by love. Dialogue 26

 The above are quotes from Saint Catherine of Siena,

 Doctor of the Church.

 

 Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.

The disciples went about healing and doing the work of God.

They consistently resisted the temptation to take any credit for themselves.

Barnabas and Paul tried to stress to the people their humanness...

saying we are just the same as you.

 

They realized that under their own power they were nothing.

All the good they were able to accomplish was through the power of God.

They allowed God to use their hands and inspire their words.

We can ask God to use us in a manner that is pleasing to him.

 

"...The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name–
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you."

 

Jesus promised that the Father would send down the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit came then and continues to come down upon all of us.

 

The Holy Spirit comes down opening our minds and hearts to understanding.

The Holy Spirit keeps the word alive;

providing for us what we need for our soul. 

 

The Advocate...

The dictionary says...

one that pleads the cause of another; specifically :

one that pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court...

 one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal...

one that supports or promotes the interests of another. 

 

 The grace of the Holy Spirit gives us insight

into God's plan for our lives.

The Holt Spirit inspires us into being all

that God intends for us to be. 

 

The Holy Spirit is our connection today with the Father and the Son.

The Holy Spirit moves freely in and out of our daily lives.

Do you even notice when the Spirit is present?

Begin to become more aware;

it will bring you much joy and comfort.

 

'Stand up straight on your feet'

knowing that God has sent the Holy Spirit for you.

 

We begin now to anticipate the formal sending down

of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

 

So very many Blessings of Easter.

We are so very loved.

Set Apart...Sent Forth...to Shine

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 12:24—13:5a ~~~ Psalm 67 ~~~ John 12:44-50 ~~~

 

'...Set apart for...

...the work to which I have called them...

...sent forth by the Holy Spirit...'

 

Through our Baptism we have each been set apart.

Through our Confirmation we have been sent forth by the Holy Spirit.

Now how we live our life speaks louder than the words we might speak.

 

How do you respond knowing that you have been set apart?

How does this make you different?

 

Some may erroneously believe they have been set apart for the wrong reasons.

God will never set you apart to cause harm or destruction

to another person.

We are set apart by God to do good...to pray for others...

to treat others justly with compassion.

We are set apart to be a conduit of God's love.

 

It is true that because we are frail humans

we sometimes fail to live up to the mission for which God has called us.

But he is a patient God who is there to light the path of return.

 

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth

 

The psalmist draws from the blessing in the Book of Numbers.

Part of the blessing is requesting God to let his face shine upon us.

The God of light shines his benevolent face of grace

upon all who call upon his name.

 

 

Without this light of truth and goodness;

we would be forever lost within the darkness that obscures the world.

 

I came into the world as light,

I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

 

In spite of this darkness Jesus brings forth the light

which is from God

which is of God.

God is the source of all light.

He is the Creator of the Light.

Jesus is the manifestation of this light for us to witness.

We come to learn and love God best through

knowledge and love for his Son, Jesus.

 

The presence of the Son makes the love of the Father more real.

Our God is truly an awesome God...

a God who saves in as many ways as possible.

If we ask for forgiveness we will be granted it.

 

May the light of Christ shine out to all of the world through each of us.

 

The Easter Blessing

of being set apart and sent forth.

Bring the Light of Christ with wherever you go.

May God let his face shine upon you!

We Too Have Come to Believe

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 9:31-42 ~~~ Psalm 116 ~~~ John 6:60-69 ~~~

 

We continue to hear how the church is growing;

how it is strengthening believers.

 

'...She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers.'

Peter was blessed with the gift of healing and restoring life.

This was one of the gifts realized through

the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus.

These gifts were one of the ways

the presence of God remained real after the death of Jesus.

 

It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.

 

Peter had no power without the intercession of the Holy Spirit.

Just as Jesus gave credit to the Father for his miracles of healing.

 

Those who experienced healing either in mind, body, or spirit

would profoundly praise the name of the Lord.

 

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

 

Once you have experienced this closeness of God

 how could you not want to call on his name?

But some did not. Some actually turned and walked away.

When people are confused and lack understanding

 they are more apt to make poor decisions.

 

Peter is able to profess his loyalty to Jesus;

convinced that Jesus had the words of eternal life.

 

 

My prayer is that I will have an equally strong conviction

in the living Spirit within my life.

 

I may not have been healed of a terrible illness

or raised from the dead,

but without the Spirit I would not amount to much.

It is the Holy Spirit who sustains my ability to do the work of God.

It  is the Holy Spirit I invite to give me the words

I write here everyday.

 

May you be blessed always in all ways.

Easter Blessings!

Blessed Above All Women

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

~~~ Revelation 12:1-6a, 10a,b ~~~ Psalm: Judith 13-18 ~~~ Luke 1:26-38 ~~~

 

The completion of Mary's conception with Jesus brought together

the power of God and the salvation of all of mankind.

If for some reason Mary would have been too frightened to hear

all that the angel said to her salvation history might

look very different.

 

I do believe that God would have found another way to accomplish

his salvation plan, just maybe not in the same manner.

 

Over time Mary is so loved that she has appeared in many different

types of clothing. Who would have thought Mary to be such a typical woman.

I am smiling as I write this because Mary truly was a typical woman.

All kidding aside...

She was a typical woman chosen and blessed by God.

 

He chooses each of us to carry on the work he started here on earth.

He has chosen us to carry on the work that Mary so courageously

continued after he was crucified.

 

We do not have any writings that I know of of Mary going out and teaching.

But we could certainly expect that she told his stories

of love, care, compassion, and healing to anyone who would listen.

 

 

Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.

 

It is so fitting that during the Advent season we would be blessed with

two occasions to honor Mary just a few days apart.

 

Mary is a key figure in our salvation.

She was a willing participant in the loss of her son

so that we could be saved...

so that we could enter into eternal life with Jesus and herself.

 

The Holy Spirit was at work making things perfect in the heart

of Mary at the Annunciation.

And I know from experience when the Holy Spirit wants you

 to do something it eventually comes to be realized.

 

Not only was Mary overshadowed by the Holy Spirit,

but her cousin Elizabeth was also filled with

that same spirit.

It does not matter if you are young or old

the Holy Spirit

finds a way for you to be useful.

When the Holy Spirit pours on the grace

like gravy on mashed potatoes

it is hard to refuse his or her request.

(I added 'her' just to see if you were paying attention)

 

Mary is a model person for all of us, men and women alike.

 

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

 

She never let her 'special' motherhood

go to her head.

She remained convicted by what God had done in her.

She was the vessel now; the new ark of the covenant.

 

Surely Mary had many opportunities to embrace the child Jesus

during his formative years.

Today she is opening her arms to receive all who come to her.

No other human being was ever as physically close to Jesus as Mary.

She loves us first and foremost because Jesus loves us.

Being Open to Goodness

~~~ Titus 3:1-7 ~~~ Psalm 23 ~~~ Luke 17:11-19 ~~~

 

"...be obedient...be open to every good enterprise..."

 

Paul shares his personal indiscretions prior to his conversion.

How he was living in the throes of physical pleasures.

 

The kindness and generous love of God

grabbed him all the way to his soul.

Paul acknowledges the mercy God extended to him,

admitting he was undeserving.

 

He describes his conversion as a 'bath of rebirth'

 and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

It is only through this great mercy and love

that we too become heirs in hope of eternal life.

 

It is only through being open to the goodness of God

that we can come to our salvation.

We must believe in a God who only wants good for us.

We must believe in a God who like the shepherd cares for each

and every one of his flock.

 

If the lepers in today's gospel had not opened their hearts to the

remote possibility that they could be cured then they might have

remained in the shadows.

These lepers might have never found the courage to approach

Jesus and ask for healing.

 

 

Being open to every good enterprise means you are able to

experience the green pastures and the restful waters.

It means that even when you walk in the valley of darkness

you hold on to the vision of Jesus walking beside you.

 

Being open you can see the banquet and feel the oil

as it drips from your forehead.

 

Being open to every good enterprise...

you desire to stay close to him...

you want to dwell in his house all the days of your life.

 

Have you closed off parts of your life?

Have you closed off parts of your heart?

 

Being open to the possibility of God's goodness places

us in the state to also receive it.

 

I invite you to be open today and witness

what happens.

Eyes of the Heart

 

~~~ Ephesians 1: 15-23 ~~~ Psalm 8 ~~~ Luke 12: 8-12 ~~~

"...May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones..."

Because we have been sealed with the Spirit
we also are enlightened by the same Spirit.

If we could actually view the world through the eyes of our heart
I think we would live in a very different world.
The love of God is firmly planted within our hearts from conception,
but over time the 'stuff' of life obscures it.

It takes focused intention to see the with the eyes of the heart.
There is however an exception to seeing with the eyes of the heart;
when two people are in love.
When you are in love it often is primarily that one sees
with the eyes of the heart.
Love is blind, the saying goes because it is the eyes of the heart
that sustain the love one has for another.

Loving our neighbor as our self is not the same love as loving with the eyes of the heart. Loving our neighbor is often the act of our will.
We decide to love the other person because it is the right action to take...
it is the right state of mind.

Looking through the lens of the love of God enables us to know
 the hope which is part of his love.
Seeing with heart we can have faith
in those things which we cannot understand.
Seeing with heart we can believe those things
we cannot explain.

Why does one person fall in love with another person?
Many times there is no explanation.

 

Today let us join St. Paul in giving thanks for those who love us.

Let us give thanks for those whom we love.

Let us pray for the gift to see those we are less inclined to love

with the eyes of the heart.

If we believe that we are made in the image and likeness of God then

it follows that we can and should love all people.

 

"...do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment

what you should say."

 

The Holy Spirit activates the love within our hearts.

The Holy Spirit will put the words of love in our hearts,

 so that we can speak them to others.

 

It is through loving others that we ever hope to inherit our place

with the holy ones.

God is love and he sent us His Spirit to abide in our hearts.