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May 9, 2018

Today’s Gospel reading speaks of the role of the Holy Spirit: “he will guide you into the whole truth.”

Jesus was speaking at his farewell discourse to his Apostles on the night before he died: when he spoke about the sending of the Holy Spirit, were the Apostles reassured? Jesus told them he would leave them but the Spirit will come to them: “From the Father I will send you the Spirit of truth. When the Helper comes from the Father, he will be my witness” (Jn 15: 26) “It is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you.” (Jn 16: 7)

Though seemingly abstract at times, the Holy Spirit is indeed present in our lives. The descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles on the first Pentecost turned the frightened apostles into courageous preachers of the Good News of the risen Jesus.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is manifested by the gifts of the Holy Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy and peace, patience, understanding of others, kindness and fidelity, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5: 22 – 23) Such virtues spring from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 34, Issue 3

<< Wednesday, May 9, 2018 >>

Acts 17:15, 22�18:1
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Psalm 148:1-2, 11-14

John 16:12-15
Similar Reflections

HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOU WANT?

"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now." �John 16:12

We need the Pentecost Novena, which starts in two days, because we are not ready to hear what Jesus desires to tell us. No matter how close we are to the Lord, He always has "much more" for us (Jn 16:12) � more ministry, more peace, more stretching.

We may already be stretched as far as we think possible. Like a woman in the last month of pregnancy, we may not think it's possible to be stretched any further. Yet the woman wakes up the next morning to discover she has stretched even more. She knows that in the days to come, she will keep stretching.

You might not see how you could possibly forgive the person who hurt you. You are so busy with the kids, how could you find time and energy for one more thing? So in that sense, you may not be ready to hear the "much more" that Jesus has to tell you.

This is why the Church, in her wisdom, takes the time for the coming Pentecost Novena. If we're too busy to pray, we're too busy. If we're too busy for the Holy Spirit, we're too busy. Clear your calendar. Ask the Lord during the Pentecost Novena for the grace to receive the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Father, open me, stretch me, enlarge me to receive the Holy Spirit.

Promise: "When He comes, however, being the Spirit of truth He will guide you to all truth." —Jn 16:13

Praise: Fr. Allen went from "good" to the Best at Pentecost. His parishioners then kept commenting on how his homilies touched them in exactly the areas in which they were hurting the most.