“It is the decision of the Holy Spirit, and ours too.” —Acts 15:28
Two more weeks and we reach one of the most important events in our lives, Pentecost. Jesus continues to say: “This much have I told you while I was still with you; the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My name, will instruct you in everything, and remind you of all that I told you” (Jn 14:25-26).We need the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, what Jesus has told us will not become real in our lives. We will then become “distressed or fearful” (Jn 14:27). Without the Spirit, we will “make a pretense of religion but negate its power” (2 Tm 3:5), foster doubt rather than faith, and promote disunity in the Body of Christ. We receive the Spirit or stay locked by fear in the upper room (Jn 20:19, 26). We receive the Spirit or see our life’s work amount to nothing, for “flesh begets flesh, Spirit begets spirit” (Jn 3:6).The word “spirit” also means “breath.” We need the Holy Spirit as much or even more than we need our life’s breath. Begin to wait and pray (Acts 1:4), to pray and thirst (Lk 11:13), to thirst and believe (Jn 7:37), to believe and obey (Acts 5:32). Jesus “breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (Jn 20:22).
PRAYER: Father, renew my Confirmation. Fill me with the Spirit in a way beyond anything I have ever imagined (Eph 3:20).
PROMISE: The angel “carried me away in spirit to the top of a very high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.” —Rv 21:10
PRAISE: “It is the will of Him Who sent Me that I should lose nothing of what He has given Me; rather, that I should raise it up on the last day” (Jn 6:39). Risen Jesus, thank You for Your mercy.
(From a reflection by the late Fr Al Lauer’s Presentation Ministries) For the full Readings please go to:https:thewordonsunday.blogspot.comor visit our Facebook page / The Word on Sunday
John Portelli
