Replies

Meditation: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17

6th Sunday of Easter

They received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:17)

As soon as the apostles heard about God’s work in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to find out what was happening. When they arrived and met the people whom Philip had evangelized, they had no hesitation about praying with them. They freely gave away what they had freely received, and as a result, many more people were filled with the Spirit.

Since the Spirit is already living in us through Baptism, the idea of being “filled” with the Spirit may be a little confusing. Maybe an analogy can help. When a husband and wife are in love, they are “filled” with each other. They cherish each other; they care for each other. They want to be together as much as possible. In a sense, they are being filled with each other’s love over and over again.

Similarly, we can be filled with the Spirit every day by turning to him in prayer and asking him to show us his love. Then we will respond by being preoccupied with the Lord no matter what we are doing. With the Spirit in the forefront of our minds, we will find ourselves trying our best to please him. What’s more, we’ll find him comforting us, leading us, and helping us feel God’s love more deeply.

Think about how much of an effect a husband and wife have on each other. They look out for each other’s interests above their own. They tend to be more kind, considerate, patient, and generous. Their love spreads beyond themselves to their children and neighbors, even to strangers. They are transformed by married love. Just so, when we are filled with the Spirit, we are changed. We become more peaceful and less irritable. We are more forgiving, more prayerful, and more dedicated to the mission of the Church. We are less selfish, less demanding, and less judgmental.

Never stop asking the Spirit to fill you!

“Lord, I want to be filled with your Holy Spirit every day. Never take your Holy Spirit away from me!”

Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Acts 8:5-8,14-17; Psalm 66:1-7,16,20; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21)

1. In the first reading, we hear that the listeners “paid attention” when the word of God was proclaimed. How expectant or attentive are you when Scripture is read or when the homily is delivered at Mass? What steps can you take to be more open and attentive?

2. “Joy” appears in both the first reading (“There was great joy in that city.”) and the responsorial psalm (“Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.”). How do these readings describe the basis for this joy? What is the basis for your joy as you live out each day?

3. In the second reading, Peter encourages us to “always be ready” to share with others our faith. How ready are you? What are the obstacles that hold you back from sharing your faith with others? What would it take to overcome them?

4. What an incredible promise Jesus gives us in the Gospel reading: “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth” - that is, the Holy Spirit, God himself dwelling and remaining within each one of us from the time we were baptized! How much do you reverence God’s very presence within you through the indwelling Spirit?

5. The meditation ends with these words: “when we are filled with the Spirit, we are changed. We become more peaceful and less irritable. We are more forgiving, more prayerful, and more dedicated to the mission of the Church. We are less selfish, less demanding, and less judgmental.Never stop asking the Spirit to fill you!” What might you do to turn to the Lord more frequently during the day to ask him to fill you afresh with his Holy Spirit? What difference do you think this will make on how you live out your Christian life? Why?

6. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for a fresh infilling of his Holy Spirit. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

A Christian Pilgrim

PRAISE GOD FOR GIVING US THE HOLY SPIRIT

25 May

PRAISE GOD FOR GIVING US THE HOLY SPIRIT

(A biblical reflection on THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – May 25, 2014)

First Reading: Acts 8:5-8,14-17; Psalms: Psalm 66:1-7,16,20; Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18; Gospel Reading: John 14:15-21

Born human, we have within us capacities to love, learn, choose, work and so on. But we need the help of parents, teachers and friends to activate and develop these capacities so that we can reach our full human potential.

That is why we need the Holy Spirit and why Jesus promised to send Him to us: “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Paraclete – to be with you always; to remain with you and be within you.”

According to Peake’s Commentary on the Bible, the word paraclete means one who is called to our side as a helper. For example, a helper was often a legal counsellor in a court of law. In another sense, the Holy Spirit is a special kind of helper who is always with us to help us activate and develop our inner capacities.

Moreover, the Holy Spirit is given not only to be with us at our side, but also to dwell within us. His seven gifts are not some magical cloak we put on our outside, but a new source of life and power that operates from within the very depths of our being.

What are some of the ways in which the Holy Spirit helps us?

First, we become CONQUERORS. With the Holy Spirit working within our hearts there is no obstacle we cannot overcome in order to grow and expand – whether that obstacle is fear or laziness, drugs or alcohol, a physical handicap or an emotional disorder.

Second, we become more CREATIVE. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we discover more beauty and harmony in the universe and are able to express our vision in new works of music, art, literature and science.

Third, we become more COMPASSIONATE. Whenever we encounter hunger, sickness or unemployment, the Holy Spirit prompts us to do something personal to alleviate these pains experienced by other people.

Fourth, we see things with greater CLARITY. The Holy Spirit dwelling within us opens our eyes to see things from God’s point of view – the shortness of time and the length of eternity; the wisdom of discipline and the foolishness of selfish indulgence; the value of prayer and the waste of worry.

Let us praise God for giving us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us as a helper. We many never win things like Academy Awards, but with His help we will reach a peak in personal growth and enrich the lives of people around us. We may never be given gold medals at Olympics or honorary degrees at graduations, but we will become more Christ-like as the Holy Spirit transforms us from within.

Adapted from Albert Cylwicki CSB, HIS WORD RESOUNDS, Makati, Philippines: St. paul Publications, 1991, pages 36-37.