DAY FIVE: HOLY SPIRIT – HELPS TO UNDERSTAND DIVINE MYSTERIES
REFLECT:
Jesus, during His ministry prayed: “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, and revealed them to mere babes” (Mt 11: 25)
The mysteries of God are too lofty to be grasped and understood
But the Lord assures that the Holy Spirit, in the right moments, will reveal to us the mysteries of the Divine – as much needed for us to know.
There are innumerable occasions when we don’t understand the ways of God…
… times when the promises of God seem to be far from being fulfilled
… times when blessings of God seem to be evading us, even though we seem to be doing all right
… times when the Scripture goes beyond our grasp
But the Holy Spirit blesses us with understanding…
… revealing the meanings of the mysteries of life and of Divinity
… opening our eyes to understand God’s Word in the Holy Bible
EXAMINE:
Can I intercede to The Holy Spirit to “understand Divine Mysteries ” …?
… Intercede to get greater insights of the Word of God and live It faithfully in my life
… Intercede to understand the Divine mysteries and to live our Christian life with greater conviction
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, the One Who blesses with the understanding into the Divine mysteries…
Help me …
>> to have a desire to understand deeper the mysteries of God and to live them with certainty in my life
… to grow in my love for the Word of God and to believe and practise it, with sincerity and passion
Fill me with your understanding… help me to know You better… make me Love and Live in You more.. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit…Come into our hearts… and renew us, in your mighty love and fire!
The earthly life and ministry of Jesus is presented in the Bible mainly through the Four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
Of these, Mathew, Mark and Luke are termed as the Synoptic Gospels (synoptic meaning ‘same view’) because they have a common view.
The Gospel of John reflects a Christian tradition that is different from that of the other Gospel.
>> It differs significantly from the synoptic gospels in theme, content, time duration, order of events, and style.
One important distinction that is seen between the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John is that, while some events are very clearly and narratively described in the Synoptics, the elements of the same are found in the Gospel of John, either figuratively or in more detail.
One such event is the Temptations.
>> The temptations of Jesus find a clear mention in the three Synoptic Gospels as a one-time event.
> But the Gospel of John would present the same temptations, not as a one-time affair, but spread through the life and ministry of Jesus.
Another event we see is the Institution of the Holy Eucharist.
>> The narrative of the Institution of the Holy Eucharist finds a specific mention in all the three Synoptic Gospels, at the time of the Last Supper
> The Gospel of John presents a very long teaching on the Holy Eucharist (Jn 6) and clearly presents the implications and consequences of being a Eucharist through the washing of the feet and His explicit commandment of love (Jn 12)
Another event or incident that finds a mention in two of the Synoptic Gospels is the Lord’s Prayer – the Our Father.
>> But it doesn’t appear as one-block of prayer in the Gospel of John.
However, the Gospel of John also presents a very extensive teaching and displays a method of prayer.
The Gospel of the Day is this beautiful expression of Jesus praying in the Gospel of John and presents to us elements which need to become part of our own prayer life.
The Seventeenth Chapter of the Gospel of John is traditionally called as the High Priestly prayer of Jesus.
The Gospel passage of the day (Jn 17: 1-11) presents a few basics and essentials of prayer:
1. Jesus prays for the Glory of the Divine
Every prayer ought to be an expression of praise, worship and exaltation of the Holy Name of God.
Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to Your Son, so that your Son may glorify You!” (Jn 17: 1)
The lips of the Lord moved in praise of His Father and seeking the glory that was due to Him.
Is my prayer an expression of my desire to ‘lift up the name of the Lord on high?”
>> Or does my prayer degenerate into merely asking for things and wanting to focus the attention on me, than the Divine?
2. Jesus prays for the gift of eternal life for His people
Every prayer ought to have its intention aimed towards eternity!
Jesus prayed, “.. just as You gave Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all You gave Him” (Jn 17: 2)
The purpose of the Lord was clearly focussed on eternal goodness and everlasting benefits.
Is my prayer an articulation of my longing for heaven and centred towards seeking the higher-things of life?
>> Or do I get limited in my prayer with merely earthly and transitory things of life; not that they are unimportant, but whether they snatch away our minds from the true needs and requirements of life?
3. Jesus prays with an expression of His intimacy with God and His People
Every prayer ought to be a manifestation of my unity with the Lord and the people to whom I am connected.
Jesus prayed, “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you and you gave them to me… ” (Jn 17: 6)
The prayer of the Lord showed that He was in intimacy with the Father and was in close union with the people in His life
Is my prayer a sign of my close friendship with the Lord as well my close binding with the many people in my life?
>> Or am I failing in my prayer due to a breakage of relation with the Lord due to sin, and suffering from disturbance of mind due to damaged and hateful links with the people in my life?
4. Jesus prays for the unity and safety from the evil
Every prayer ought to make me closer to the Lord and His people and cause to me stay further away from the evil.
Jesus prayed, “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one” (Jn 17: 11b)
The heart of the Lord moved to seek to protect the people He loved and also grow in greater intimacy
Is my prayer constantly drawing me to purge away sins from my life, so that I can remain in His name, and also make me assist His people in service?
>> Or does my prayer life make no effect on me to stay away from the evil and fail to be expressed in loving actions of charity and help?
The Lord desires that just as He prayed, in close intimacy with His Father, we too may grow in our life of prayer and union with the Heavenly Father.
Let us seek the intercession of St John of Avila, whose feast we celebrate today.
May we make his prayer, our own: “Turn yourself round like a piece of clay and say to the Lord: I am clay, and you, Lord, the potter. Make of me what you will.
DAY FOUR: HOLY SPIRIT – INTERCEDES AND PRAYS FOR US
REFLECT:
Prayer is an act of intimacy with God.
>> It is being with the Lord – a relationship
St Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans, “the Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness, for we do not know we how to pray as we ought to ” (Rom 8:26)
There are many moments when we find it difficult to pray…
… there is often dryness or a sense of emptiness
… there is often an urge to not pray or just “not feel” like praying
… there is sometimes a lot of distraction, dissatisfaction or disillusionment in prayer
But the Holy Spirit comes to our aid…
… praying for us
… interceding for us
It is the Holy Spirit who “helps us to pray and intercedes for us”…
… He strengthens our prayer-moments when we find it hard to pray ( Lk 22:43)
… He helps us to pray according to the Will of God (Rom 8:29)
EXAMINE:
Can I allow The Holy Spirit to “help me to pray” …?
… Allow Him to intercede and pray for me, even if I am going through dryness in prayer
… Allow Him to teach me the different ways of praying and being in His presence
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, the One Who helps me to pray and intercedes for me, strengthen me to grow in my love for the Lord
Help me …
>> to know that prayer is “being in the presence of the Lord” and goes beyond words and feelings
>> to let go of my pride, prejudices and sinful tendencies, to grow deeper in my prayer life
Mould me in Your presence… inspire me to grow in love for the Lord… purify me in love, Amen!
Come Holy Spirit…Come into our hearts… and renew us, in your mighty love and fire!
Space scientists in the 1960’s and 70’s made several efforts to help astronauts or cosmonauts to have a safer and healthier stay in space.
The major hurdle to this was the fact that no matter how well prepared physically the cosmonauts or astronauts for the trip…
… even a short stay in space had a massive negative influence on their health.
Weightlessness (antigravity) and lack of movement (hypokinesia) caused immediate retardation of the whole body space traveller –muscles, bones, peripheral and central nervous systems degenerated within several hours to a large extent.
Upon return to Earth, the astronauts had to readjust to Earth’s gravity and experienced problems standing up, stabilizing their gaze, walking and turning.
They needed a long-term intensive rehabilitation to get back in shape.
To counteract this, a running suit laced with elastic bands was utilized.
The function of this elastic band, was to resist every move that the cosmonaut would make.
>> This resistance would force them to exert extra strength.
This worked!
>> When they had resistance, their muscles were stronger and it prepared them for recovery back into the earth’s atmosphere.
>> The greater pressure they exerted, the stronger was their physique and faster did it help them to get back to normalcy faster.
How true is this of our life as well!
>> The easier our life, the greater is the possibility of our spiritual fibre being weak…
>> The comfortable our living, the higher are the chances of being lax and lethargic…
Strength of any kind grows only by exertion!
And therefore, the Gospel of the Day will present Jesus encouraging and motivating His disciples and we, His followers to be firm and strong, even in the midst of any sort of persecution or problems.
>> Jesus will tell, “In the world you will have tribulations; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16: 33)
The Lord in His final discourses to the Disciples constantly gives the message of Hope and Encouragement.
>> Jesus is a not a leader who shys away from presenting the truth.
>> Jesus is not a Master who hides the real facts of following Him.
He plainly tells them that His going away from the world will result in a number of persecutions.
>> He predicts that His chosen ones would desert Him in His time of agony and suffering: “Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to His own home and you will leave me alone.” (Jn 16: 32)
Yet, He assures His followers, that He will still remain with them and strengthen them.
He is bold to tell them, “… Take courage, I have conquered the world” (Jn 16: 33b)
Our life is also beset with many problems, afflictions and difficulties.
>> Sometimes, we do ask ourselves, “why do I face so many problems?”
>> Sometimes, we do feel, “why such immense pains in our life?”
>> Sometimes, we do question, “why is life so unfair to me?”
But the Lord tells us, that we ought not to get discouraged or disheartened.
>> Rather, we need to realise, that such hardships and problems, keep us oriented towards seeking the help of God.
When difficulties creep in life, our face is set more towards the Lord.
… but when life goes on too smoothly, there are chances that tend to relax our relation with Him
When problems surface and surmount, our minds are attuned more towards seeking the Lord
… but when life is too cosy and comfortable, there are possibilities of being too casual in prayer life
When hardships bite us hard, our hearts long deeper for the presence and providence of God
… but when life goes on a smooth sailing, there are prospects that we tend to forget the important role of the Lord in life
Adversities in life act as elastic bands, that cosmonauts or astronauts use…
…. they function in a way, to resist our every good action and aspiration…
>> But resistance ought to make us exert greater effort and have a stronger dependence on the Lord!
The greater the adversities, the stronger ought to be our dependence and trust in the Lord.
>> Strength of any kind grows only by exertion!
Let us not get discouraged by the problems of life… instead, consider them as golden opportunities and graces to grow much deeper and stronger in the Love of the Lord!
Let us seek the intercession of St Pachomius, who is considered to the Founder of the Cenobatic (living in communities) life of Consecrated Life.
Let us pray to him for the grace to always remain in the love of the Lord, and give heed to his words:
“If an impure thought enters your mind, be it hatred or wickedness, jealousy, envy, contempt for your brother, or human vainglory, remember at once and say, ‘If I consent to any one of those things, I shall not see the Lord.”
On the coast of Norway was a lighthouse where the keeper lived with his two little children.
One day the keeper went to the distant shore for provisions.
A storm arose, and he was unable to return.
It was, however, time for lighting the lamp.
Elena, the elder child, said to her little brother, “We must light the lamp, Willie.”
“How can we?” asked Willie, “We are not big enough!”
The two children climbed the long, narrow stairs to the tower where the lamp was kept.
Elena pulled up a chair and tried to reach the lamp in the great reflector.
It was too high!
Groping down the stairs, she ascended again with a small oil lamp in her hand, she climbed on the chair again, but still the reflector was just beyond her reach.
“Get down,” said Willie; “I know what we can do.”
She jumped down.
The little boy stretched his little body across the chair, “Stand on me,” he said.
She stood surprised for a moment… but then soon stood on the little fellow as he lay across the chair.
She raised the lamp high, and its light shone far out across the water.
Holding it first with one hand, then with the other, to rest her little arms, she called down to her brother,”Does it hurt you, Willie?”
“Of course it hurts,”exclaimed li’l Willie, “but keep the light burning!”
The little kids made sure every effort was taken to keep the light lit, even if it meant difficulty and pain.
· Are we keeping the light of Christ’s love burning in the world, even though it hurts?
· Are we holding it up so that all nations may see its beams afar?
Today is the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord.
This is the day…
… in which He gave the mission mandate of preaching His Good News to the entire world.
… in which He ascended to the heavens, as a culmination of the glory of the Resurrection
In our proclamation of the Apostles’ Creed, we affirm, ” … He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty!”
Ascension, Rembrandt, 1636, Alte Pinakothek, Munich
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is a declaration of various pointers for our reflection…
1. The Ascension is an event that reminds the glory and majesty of the Lord, who is sovereign over all
The Lord ascended.
Elsewhere in the Bible, we have incidents of persons being taken up to heaven
· Enoch was taken up by God: “Then Enoch walked with God and he was no longer here, for God took him” (Gen 5:24)
· Elijah went up: “As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between Elisha and Elijah, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind” (2Kgs 2: 11)
Mother Mary was’assumed’ into heave, body and soul (Dogma of the Assumption)
However, Christ’ascended’
It was His Power that made Him to ‘go up’ to the heavens.
This is a tremendous demonstration of His Divinity, His Glory and His Power!
2. The Ascension is an event which radiates hope to the suffering and optimism to the distressed
The interesting saga of Christ’s life, which beginning with….
…. His simple yet powerful event of His Birth…
… His ordinary yet impressive event of His ministry…
… His agonizing yet impactful event of His passion and death…
… His glorious and spectacularly amazing event of the Resurrection…
finds its joyful and resplendent finale in His Ascension to the heavens.
This is a beautiful exhibition of how a life, lived in faith and commitment, even if it has to go through the barbed wires of pain, humiliation, suffering and uncertainty has asplendid and magnificent ending!
3. The Ascension is an event that prods our memory and commitment to be the missionaries for the Kingdom of God
The Lord’s concluding words to His apostles constituted a binding mandate…
… to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation
… to be an instrument of His power to cast out demons, to speak in new tongues, to endure poisons, to lay hands on sick and restore them to recovery.
This is a dutiful reminder of how the Lord trusts and has immense confidence in each one of us to be the proclaimers of His word.
· The Lord wishes to reign over in our hearts.
· He wishes to be the sovereign ruler of our lives.
May the Feast of the Ascension be a reminder for us to open our hearts to let the Lord to be in total command of our lives.
May the conviction in His love, the zeal to be His Missionaries and the passion to make this world a holier place help us, even in the face of pain and suffering and hardships, to exclaim…
“Of course it hurts, but I still keep the light burning!”
We recite in the Nicene Creed: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, THE GIVER OF LIFE…”
The Holy Spirit gives life – both natural and spiritual.
>> The “Spirit of God hovered over the waters” at beginning of creation (Gen 1:3)
>> The Spirit of God “overshadowed Mother Mary” to mark the beginning of the New Creation, in Christ (Lk 1: 35)
>> The Spirit of God mightily descended on the first disciples in the Upper Room (Acts 2) and was constantly the life-giver in all the endeavors of the Church’s mission
It is the Holy Spirit who “gives life”…
… He is the life-breath and is the agent of “renewal and regeneration” through the Sacrament of Baptism
… He is the One Who “gives life to the dead bones” (Ez 37: 1ff) of our lost hopes, broken dreams and uncertain aspirations
… He is the One who initiates us constantly to “live a life in Christ” (Gal 2: 2) and become imitators of Christ in this world (1 Cor 11:1)
EXAMINE:
Can I learn to grow in my understanding of the Holy Spirit as “The Giver of Life”…?
…. Learn to acknowledge and give Him praise for the gift of life
… Learn to pray for a renewal of life, especially in our moments of weakness and in our times of despair, anxiety and uncertainty
… Learn to always be full of life and vibrancy in all our works, by being filled with the Holy Spirit
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, we pray that you give us the grace to understand and acknowledge Your Mighty Power in our life.
Empower us…
>> to depend on You completely, especially in our weaknesses and the fragile areas of our life
>> to come to You and find vigour, especially when life turns its harsh face towards us
>> to live a “life in Christ” and impart the love and mercy of God to all
Fill us with your life… make us anew… permeate us with Your power, Amen!
Come Holy Spirit…Come into our hearts… and renew us, in your mighty love and fire!
One of the important functions of the Holy Spirit is “To Sanctify”
>> Sanctify means, “to make Holy”
It is the Will of God that “all should be holy”
>> You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, Am Holy (Lev 20:26)
It is the Holy Spirit who “sanctifies us”….
…. He convicts of our sin, of the times when we stray away from God’s Will and ways
… He reminds us of the need to remain faithful to the commands of God
… He helps us to fight against our natural desires and instead seek Divine virtues
Examine:
Can I seek to embrace deeper, The Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier…?
…. Seek to grow in holiness?
… Seek to let go our sinful tendencies or bad habits?
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, we pray that you help us to have a deeper desire to grow in sanctity. Help us realise that God’s Will for me is to be Holy and walk in according to His Will.
Strengthen me…
>> to take decisions to move away from occasions of sin
>> to let go habits that cause me to be impure and
>> to choose to live Your Divine virtues in my life!
Sanctify me, cleanse me, purify me, AMEN!
Come Holy Spirit…Come into our hearts… and renew us, in your mighty love and fire!
We are nine days away from the Great Feast of the Pentecost; the Feast of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit, can be termed as the “Shy-Person of the Trinity”.
When we consider the works of the Holy Spirit, it absolutely amazing… He is the One who sanctifies, the One who searches the depths of our hearts, the One who intercedes, the One who reveals, the One who leads and directs, the One who convicts us of sin, the One who disciplines, the One who creates and recreates, the One who unites, the One who empowers and counsels, the One who inspires etc……
…. The Holy Spirit is mighty.. …and yet, very often, in our worship, the Holy Spirit takes a backseat!
….He remains the Silent Worker behind every Divine Act
..He remains the unknown figure of the Great Drama of Salvation,
…. He remains the Gentle Presence behind every Holy Touch of God
We usually, even have our prayers more to God the Father, and to Jesus, the Son…but very less to the Holy Spirit.
The Great Feast of the Pentecost Feast, is a reminder to invite the Holy Spirit deeper into our lives and to experience HIS LIVING, LOVING and LOVING PRESENCE in our lives!
The Lord has promised the gift of the Spirit to all those who ask Him.
After the Ascension of the Lord, the Disciples were gathered together with our Blessed Mother and were praying, when the Spirit was poured out on them!
We begin today a Nine-Day Preparation for this Wonderful Feast of the Holy Spirit.
>> We reflect, in short, some of the functions and roles of the Holy Spirit
>> We seek to grow in love of the Holy Spirit and learn to have Him as our walking-companion!
>> As we prepare our hearts for this Feast, let us pray with our Blessed Mother, for the Gift of this Gentle and Dynamic Spirit.
Come Holy Spirit…Come into our hearts… and renew us, in your mighty love and fire!
A young man was to be sentenced to the prison for a serious offence.
>> The judge had known him from childhood, for he was well acquainted with his late father.
His father was a famous legal scholar and the author of an exhaustive study entitled, “The Law of Trusts.”
“Do you remember your father?” asked the magistrate.
>> “I remember him well, your honour,” came the reply.
Seeking to probe further, the judge said:
“As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?”
There was a groaning pause.
>> Then the judge received an answer he had not expected.
“I remember when I went to him for advice.
He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, ‘Run along, boy; I’m busy!’
When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying:
“Run along, son; the writing of this book must be finished!’
Your honour, you remember him as a great lawyer.
But I remember him, only as a lost friend!”
The magistrate muttered to himself, “Alas! He finished the book, but lost the boy!”
The busyness of the father resulted in the boy failing to receive love, and thus ended up into bad ways of living.
Every person longs for love…
>> Every person longs to be cared for…
The father in this story, achieved great success in his worldly life, but failed miserably to love and care for his son.
However, in absolute contrast, we have our Heavenly Father, who is deeply in love with us, His children, and who never ceases to express His caring affection to us, at every moment.
Our Heavenly Father is also busy… but busy in loving His children, and expressing His constant care.
The Gospel of the Day is a testimony to Jesus affirming the assuring and loving presence of God, our Heavenly Father.
Jesus declares these beautiful words, which ought to be inscribed in golden shades, on the canvas of our hearts, “… the Father Himself loves you…” (Jn 16: 27a)
This is indeed one of the mightiest and loftiest truth that we all need to know, experience, be convinced of, and live constantly in its assurance…
… the truth that “The Father Himself loves us!”
Every person longs for love and longs to be cared for…
Human love, however, sometimes fails to answer to this basic and essential need.
> Sometimes people around us get too busy, to even care for us…
>> Sometimes, people from whom we expect love, fail to understand our need…
>>> Sometimes, people who ought to care for us, fall short of their responsibility….
All this could leave a feeling a hurt within us.
>> All this could imprint a wound of sadness inside of us.
But in such moments of feeling lonely and desperation, especially, Jesus assures and promises us that we are not abandoned or left lonely…
>> Instead Jesus emphatically proclaims that just as He was loved by His Father, we too are loved by our Heavenly Father!
>> It is confidence in this tremendous love of the Father…
… that will make us to seek whatever we wish in life, knowing that our prayers will be answered, in the way and the time, that He, My Father wishes! (Jn 16: 26)
His Love will make me delight in His Will, letting go of my personal desires!
>> It is conviction in this unconditional love of the Father…
… that will make us to enjoy a deep sense of joy and bliss, knowing that in any situation of gloom or sadness or tension or worry, He, My Father, is taking me through! (Jn 16: 24)
His Love will make me want to do only His Will, setting aside my individual wantings!
Our Heavenly Father, our Abba is in deep love of each one of us…
>> The Crucifix is the proof of this “mad love” of the Father.
May we, with His grace, deepen our love and conviction in the Amazing Love of the Father.
>> He is busy.. but busy expressing His tender love to us.
>> He is busy writing… writing His letters of His precious love to us.
May we be privileged to hear:
“Wow!! He finished his/her life, and gained eternal life!”
Reflection Capsules 