The first role of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify us. Jesus saves us. The Spirt enables us to be holy. When we were baptized we became adopted sons and daughters of God, given a share in his divine life. We received sanctifying grace. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, through this grace we are make perfect in love. It is the role of the Spirit to perfect and bring us into a deeper union with God, so that we can have perfect, eternal union with the Trinity. Our role is one of response to this action of the Holy Spirit who is the initiator. How conscious are we of this move of the Spirit? Most of us are not. And yet, without the presence of the Holy Spirit, we could not grow in love of God and of our neighbor, which is what sanctifying grace accomplishes in us. Come, Holy Spirit. Sanctify me. Keep me one with you today.
In St. Luke's Gospel in the first two chapters, he mentions seven people filled with the Holy Spirit. In his Acts of the Apostles, he speaks of a number of people filled with the Holy Spirit. Each was a witness of the presence, plan and power of the Holy Spirit. God sent his Son, Jesus, to reconcile us back to our Beginning and End. The Father and Jesus sent us the Spirit to sanctify, anoint, empower and mission us. To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to receive the Holy Spirit in our lives, so that we can give testimony of God's plan in our lives. Usually, this presence of the Spirit is manifested with some sign or wonder. Mary, Elizabeth, Zachariah, Simeon and Anna, in Luke's early chapters, each prophesied. Through Baptism and Confirmation we are filled with the Spirit. But the gifts of the Spirit must be stirred up by faith, not only believing in God's Word but also stepping out and doing what the Spirit calls us to do.
During this Easter Season the Church is already looking forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church, upon us, in a fresh new way. Who is the Holy Spirit to us? How does he move in our life? How receptive are we to the grace of the Holy Spirit? When we were baptized, not only were we free from Original sin, but we were adopted by God as his son or daughter, sharing in his divine life. As St. Paul tells us, we are Temples of the Holy Spirit. How conscious are we of this life-giving presence of the Divine Person? During the next few weeks, we will reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit, according to God's plan as revealed in the Word of God. As part of this reflection, I invite you to pray with me each day, "Come, Holy Spirit, come. Come in a fresh new way into my life."
Easter involved a radical change in Jesus and in those who believe in him. His body takes on a different appearance, but it is the same Jesus. Something changes in those whom he encounters after his resurrection. The women came to the tomb sad. They left joyfully. They expected the tomb to still be sealed, but it was wide open. They expected to see a lifeless body. They saw their Lord, risen and alive. Likewise the Apostles. They did not believe the initial report of the women. Then Jesus appeared to them. No longer fearful and disbelieving, they acknowledge Jesus with joy. One effect of the resurrection is a change in relationship with Jesus. For us, Lent is a grace, preparing us for that change of heart. Renewing our baptismal promises on Easter is a statement of our commitment to continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus, the risen Lord. It is this change that prepares us to receive anew the gift of the Spirit in our lives.
Homily: Second Sunday of Easter Year C
Reading
1: Signs and wonders occurred at the hands of the Apostles after Pentecost. The
sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits were cured. What was the focus of
this happening? Jesus was proclaimed as Lord and Messiah by those who were
witnesses of the Risen Lord and his teachings. As a result, others believed and
were added to their numbers.
Faith
in Jesus. The Apostles did what Jesus told them to do. They received the anointed
power of the Holy Spirit and they were led by the Spirit, as Jesus was, to pray
for those who were sick and those influenced by evil spirits.
Faith
in Jesus Christ entails committing one’s life to Jesus Christ as Lord and
Messiah and openness to the grace of the Holy Spirit. This opens one up to the
manifestations of God’s power. That is the plan of God. Should that not be
happening now?
Reading
2: Why was John persecuted? Because he proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony
to Jesus. As a result he was exiled to the island of Patmos. Even there he
experienced a gift of the Spirit—divine visions.
In
this vision Jesus reassured him and said “Do not be afraid” to proclaim God’s
word and continue to give testimony about him who is the first and the last,
the one who died and is alive.
Is
it fear that prevents us from proclaiming God’s word by our life and actions?
Are we afraid of what others may say or think of us? Where should our focus be?
On Jesus or on others? He has the keys
of death. Others don’t.
Gospel:
Again, the focus is on the plan of the Father, the person of Jesus and the gift
of the Spirit. The Apostles were in fear of being arrested and may be put to
death like Jesus. Jesus met them where they were. He addresses their fear by
simply saying: “Peace.” That is Jesus’ word to us today. No matter our concerns,
worries, fears or problems: “Peace”.
Then
he reminded them of the Father’s plan for him and for them. “As the Father has
sent me, so I send you.” The Father sent Jesus out of love for us to bring us
Good News that would set us free, forgive us our sins and bring us once more
into God’s life. The Apostles, and we, have the same commission.
Jesus
was anointed by the Holy Spirit in his humanity, so that led by and in the
power of the Holy Spirit the words of truth proclaimed would be confirmed with
signs and wonders. So Jesus breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy
Spirit.”
But
for all this to happen there was an essential piece needed. Thomas would give
the example. Not only are we called to be disciples, followers of Jesus—but we
must have a deep personal relationship with Jesus. Our faith/commitment must be
based on the full reality of who Jesus is. Many knew and followed Jesus the man
who was crucified and buried. Thomas had not made the leap of faith to accept, acknowledge
and commit himself to Jesus as Lord and God. Like others his faith was based on
a memory not on the reality of the person of the Son of God. His faith was
built on his need to determine what will bring him to accept what the others
had seen and experienced, the risen Lord. But once he witnessed Jesus, risen,
he proclaimed: “My Lord and my God.”
Acknowledging
Jesus and “My Lord and my God”, we are called to proclaim God’s word, to give
testimony to Jesus, to be led by the Spirit and to be open to the gifts of the
Spirit so that others may believe in Jesus as Lord and Messiah.
Most people treat Easter as they treat Christmas. It is over the day afterwards. But the Church celebrates Easter for a whole week in a solemn way and for fifty days afterwards as a season. Does this indicate the importance and significance of the Paschal mysteries? Are we one of those who heard about the resurrection and ignore its implications? Are we one of those who heard about it, but did not experience anything different at Easter, so we went about our business? Are we one of those who heard and experienced the Risen Jesus in some way and then continue to celebrate his gift of life to us? The grace of Easter is not a one-day gift. It is a life changing gift to those who receive and celebrate this love of God in a conscious way. We are still in the Easter season. Invite the Risen Lord into your heart in a fresh new way, so that his risen life can continue the transformation that began in Baptism.
Reflection on the Scriptures Second Sunday of Easter Gospel C My Lord and My God
By spiritaflame 10:49 AMSecond Sunday of Easter: Gospel C
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
· Why do you think Jesus greets them thus? Could it be because they had abandoned him and ran and he wanted them not to think he had come to condemn them? Imagine yourself in that situation as one of the apostles, what would you be feeling or thinking if Jesus so appeared to you?
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
· What did the Father sent Jesus to do that Jesus was now sending the apostles to do? To be witnesses of his love and mercy. Do we have the same commission from Jesus? What are we doing about it?
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
· In John’s theology the Paschal Mystery is unified: The Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus and the Coming of the Spirit. In Luke’s Gospel there is a time factor between Easter and Pentecost.
· As the Spirit was essential in the ministry of Jesus so the Spirit would be necessary in the ministry of the Apostles and ours as well.
· Why did Jesus emphasized the power of forgiveness at this time? Who needed to know they were forgiven?
· What is the relationship between the gift of the Spirit and the experience of forgiveness? How do you connect this to the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
· Why do you think Thomas responded this way? Was he reacting out of human resentment that Jesus had not appeared to him or was there something deeper? Have you experienced doubts in your life about faith issues?
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
· How did Jesus know Thomas’ heart? Does he know your heart as well?
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
· Notice Thomas is not said to have put his finger in the nail marks or his hand in Jesus’ pierced side. Rather he moved from doubt or anger to faith and love.
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
· Can we relate to what Jesus said to Thomas? Is our faith based on “seeing”?
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
· Is our faith in the person of Jesus whether we see signs or is it depended on signs and confirmations?
"The resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ — crucified and risen from the dead — hope does not disappoint! Spes non confundit! (cf. Rom 5:5). That hope is not an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude, but empowers us. All those who put their hope in God place their feeble hands in his strong and mighty hand; they let themselves be raised up and set out on a journey. Together with the risen Jesus, they become pilgrims of hope, witnesses of the victory of love and of the disarmed power of Life." Pope Francis
On Easter Sunday of this year, Pope Francis proclaimed this message. It was in this message of hope that he embraced the death that leads to life eternal. We too are called to have that same assurance of hope as we make our journey to the promised inheritance that awaits us. Our hope is a person, the person of Jesus Christ. He has come to us to show us the way. He has gone before us to prepare for our coming. He walks with us on the journey, providing us the grace to persevere. Thank you, Jesus, for your death and resurrection. Thank you for sharing with us your eternal life. Thank you, Jesus, for your great love. May I remain faithful to you as you are faithful to me.
The Resurrection of Christ gives us new insights into our future resurrection in glory. The risen body of Jesus radiates glory. What Jesus experienced before becoming Man, what Jesus experienced at the Transfiguration is the reality that is evidenced to the believers. The glorified body is the same person, but is different. It is a real body, not a ghost, because it can be touched. He shares meals with the apostles. But the risen Savior is not limited to space and time. Though the doors are closed, Jesus appears to them. One day we hope to have a glorified body, sharing in the glory of God. This is God's revelation to us. This is our faith. What a glorious day that will be!
He is risen indeed! This is the message that has fulfilled the prophetic life of Jesus. This is a message of faith that gives new meaning to life. This is the proclamation that has given new hope to a otherwise bleak existence. Lives that were confused at his death have been transformed by his resurrected life. People who saw an empty tomb at first were sadden until they encountered the Risen Lord himself. Now, the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah come alive and are fulfilled in the living Lord and Savior. Has our life been transformed? Have we encountered the Risen Lord in faith? "Blessed are those who have not seen, but have believed." Has Jesus broken through our past fears and uncertainties with his living words: "It is I, do not be afraid."? He is risen indeed! Let our lives be a living testimony of our faith, hope and love.
HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA! BECAUSE HE LIVES, WE LIVE A NEW LIFE! ALLELUIA!
MAY YOU HAVE A GLORIOUS AND BLESSED EASTER, CELEBRAING HIS ETERNAL LIFE! ALLELUIA!
Psalms 50:9 You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.
Our God is gracious. Even though we are born with sin, in baptism he washed us clean through his sacrificed Blood. We became a new creation. God does this even knowing that we will sin again. Like the Chosen People, God delivered them from their bondage; they passed through the Red Sea on dry land, symbolizing baptism and He did signs and wonders for them in the desert. They still grumbled and sinned. He would purify them through chastisement and restored them to the Covenant. How much more he does for us! As we renew our baptismal promises on Easter, let moment be a true recommitment of our lives to the Lord in gratitude for what he has done for us.
Psalms 50:5-7 For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sinfulness did my mother conceive me.
The psalmist identifies the sin that he is effected by. He acknowledge Original sin, which we inherited from Adam and Eve. I am born with this alienation from God. But with this he admits his own sins, chosen by him, which keeps him away from God. He realizes that God is justified in pointing out our sins to us. With St. Paul we can cry out, "Who can deliver us from this state? With St. Paul in faith we know that Jesus through his death and resurrection has reconciled us back to God. In baptism we are freed from Original Sin. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we are forgiven our personal sins. What should our response be? Gratitude and determination to live free from sin, so as to share in God's divine life. That is why this Holy Week is special for us, as Christians. We remember and enter into the mystery of our salvation and new life.
Psalms 50:3-4 Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity. Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
As we enter into this Holy
Week, we need to cry out from the depths of our being to the Lord for his mercy
and forgiveness. He alone knows our sins. He alone can cleanse us of our guilt.
We are asking that the merits of his death and resurrection be applied to us.
He never withholds his loving mercy to those who ask him in true repentance.
Not only do we cry out because of our past sins, which he has forgiven, but for
our present sins as well. We have all sinned and fallen from the glory of God.
We are all forgiven through Jesus’ gift of his life. Thank you, Jesus, for your
great love. Help us to walk more faithfully with you.
Psalms 37:22-23 Do not forsake me, O Lord my God. Do not depart from me. Be attentive to my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.
What began with a recognition of sin, concludes with faith and hope. Even knowing the reality of sin in his life, the psalmist also knows that his only hope is in the mercy of God. He has no right to this mercy, for it is pure grace. But he trusts that God, who is ever faithful and compassionate, will forgive his transgressions and restore him to a right relationship. The words of Isaiah confirms this faith and hope. "Even if a mother can forget her child, I will never forget you." Knowing this, knowing our own sinfulness, let us hasten to return to the Lord, who hastens to receive us with open arms. Before we ask, he has already forgiven us. But that grace will not have its full effect until we ask with a contrite heart.
Psalms 37:16 For in you,
Lord, I have hoped. You will listen to me, O Lord my God.
In spite of his sins, the
psalmist is conscious of God as his only hope, not because of who, as sinner,
he is, but who God is. Jesus in the midst of his agony on the cross turns to
the Father. Though he was sinless, Jesus had become sin for our sake. As such,
he experiences the effects of the sins of the world. Jesus never lost sight of
his identity as the Beloved Son and his relationship with the Father. So, he
cries to the Father. It is when we realize that in spite of our sins we are the
adopted sons and daughters of God that allows us to trust in God’s mercy, as we
cry out to him. Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.
Psalms 37:10 O Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning before you has not been hidden.
The all-knowing God is
aware of our every desires, good and bad. He is aware of our repentant heart,
as we groan before him in awareness of our sins. The psalmist is confident that
God will be faithful to his promises and forgive the sins of the contrite of
heart. Do we groan in remorse after we sin? Do we have the same confidence? If
so, in faith, we believe that after confessing our sins in the Sacrament of
Reconciliation, we are restored once more as the adopted son or daughter we are
before God. God is not lacking in mercy. We are the ones lacking in love when
we sin.
When we realize the
reality of sin and the separation it causes between us and God, we feel the
emptiness. When we realize that God has loved us even to giving his life for
our salvation, and yet we sin, we feel ashamed of our selfish stupidity. Imagine
what Peter experienced after his denial of Jesus three times, which Jesus has
predicted. Imagine when he experienced the merciful glance of Jesus afterwards
how bitterly Peter sobbed from the depths of his being. He was humbled,
ashamed, filled with remorse and guilt, but he didn’t despair like Judas. In
his sorrow he sought forgiveness. Weep for your sins but know the mercy of God.
Psalms 37:8 For my loins have been filled with illusions, and there is no health in my flesh.
Often the sins of the
flesh are our downfall. How often, like the illusion of Eve, the temptation to
become like God, we become less fulfilled than we hoped. The pain of one part
of the body is felt by other parts of the body as well. Sin affects and infects
the whole body the same way. The only solution is to turn away from sin through
sincere repentance and turn back to God. God alone can heal through his mercy
both body and soul. Now is the day of salvation. Return to the Lord and he will
return to you.
Sometimes we do not
recognize the effects of sin in our lives. But the more we continue and remain
in sin, the more the spiritual cancer of sin silently spreads in us. In
foolishness we pretend all is well, even though we know better. Only the
healing touch of the Divine, merciful Physician can restore us, once we repent.
How often we delay because of our addiction to sin! Pray for the grace to
repent and be healed. Lord, have mercy on me a sinner, for I have strayed from
you. Bring me back, Shepherd of my life.
Psalms 37:7 I have become miserable, and I have been bent down, even to the end. I have walked with contrition all day long.
Reflections on the Scriptures Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel C Go and sin no more
By spiritaflame 10:18 AMFifth Sunday of Lent Gospel C
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them.
· How often do we come to Jesus to listen and to be taught?
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
· Their hearts were not right. They were not interested in doing what is right but in discrediting Jesus. Do we sometimes act of wrong motives? Do we sometimes seem more righteous than others?
If they were so righteous, why did they not bring the man who was guilty of the same sin?
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
· Even knowing their real motive, Jesus was extending a hand of mercy to them. Even when others are wrong and we know it, are we judgmental or merciful like Jesus? Do we condemn or give them a way out?
· Jesus reminded them and us that we are all sinners and who are we to judge the other? In another passage, Jesus says that we should take the beam out of our own eye before we point to the splinter in the other.
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.
· What was Jesus doing? Some interpret Jesus’ action by saying that he was writing their sins in the dirt. Others say that he was giving them a chance to save face and not condemn themselves as they were condemning the woman.
· Beginning with the elders, was this because they realized they had
· more sins?
So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
· Jesus knew the scriptures. God desires not the death of the sinner but that the person repents and lives. If we choose to die in sin, that is our choice.
· Jesus doesn’t condemn us for our sins but offers us the grace of repentance. He called sin, sin, but he extended forgiveness and mercy to the sinner.
· Do we reflect on our sinfulness? Do we remain in sin? Do we repent and heed the word of Jesus: “Go, and from now on do not sin any more?”
· When was the last time you went to confession?
Psalms 37:5 For my iniquities have walked over my head, and they have been like a heavy burden weighing upon me.
Sin is like a heavy burden upon us. For, living in sin, we are not living
out of our true identity, as the adopted sons and daughters of God.
We are like the Prodigal Son far from home, surrounded by nothing
but darkness and shambles. That self-inflicted burden is only lifted
through heartfelt repentance before the Lord and through the infinite
mercy of God. How often I have experienced this in my own life. Once
I confessed my sins, the weight upon me was lifted and removed. The
Father awaits our coming back to him, so that his mercy may cover us
once more. He awaits to embrace us in his love.
Psalms 37:4 There is no
health in my flesh before the face of your wrath. There is no peace for my
bones before the face of my sins.
When we sin and become aware of our wrongdoing, the shame and guilt become like a spiritual illness within us. Our relationship with God is shattered. Like Adam and Eve, we feel naked and want to cover up our shame, even trying to hide from God. There is no peace within us. Instead, the sense of having displeased the One who has loved us becomes overwhelming. God allows us to feel this anguish to bring us to repentance and reconciliation. Lord, have mercy, for we have sinned and turned our face from you. Be merciful, as we turn back to you.
