A WORD FOR TODAY 31 MAY 2020

A WORD FOR TODAY

HOLY SPIRIT: THE POWER FROM ABOVE

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)_

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Pentecost. The 50th day after Easter and it is the day we commemorate the coming down of the Holy spirit on the apostles at the upper room where they were staying in fear of the Jews, but in obedience to Jesus' instruction after His Ascension into heaven.

It is a time we celebrate the birthday of the Church. It is the feast that marks the official inauguration and institution of the Church. This is rightly so, because if the Holy Spirit had not come on the apostles, the Church would have been nothing different from an ordinary social gathering.

The Holy Spirit is the power from above that changed the lives of the apostles. They waited in the upper room as we have recorded in the first reading and at the appointed time, He came upon them and their lives never remained the same. Before He came, they were afraid, sad and weak, but as soon as they received the power, they became strong, courageous and joyful and they went out everywhere proclaiming the Good News of salvation without worry of what the authorities will do to them.

The power from above is sent to us to help us to be able to witness for Christ everywhere, to conquer the world, self, sin and the devil and to be able to do good and live a righteous life. It is also given to us so that we will be able to pray and pray well and to be able to live a new life as children of the risen Lord.

The Holy Spirit is our energy and spiritual strength with which we are going to win the spiritual battle we fight everyday as followers of Christ. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot function effectively as God's children. We will become weak, lazy, tepid and unconcerned when it comes to spiritual exercise.

We must open our heart to receive Him and welcome Him so that He will transform us and make use of us for His own glory. He will come with His gifts and we shall bear fruits for Him as we have in Galatians 5:22-23. No one can say that Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.(1 Corinthians 12:3)

Jesus in the gospel reading of today gave the Holy Spirit to His disciples. At baptism we received the Holy Spirit and at confirmation we were made soldiers of Christ by the grace of the same Holy Spirit and today we must fan into flame the Spirit we have received. We must continue to let the Holy Spirit lead us and we will not fall astray. Our gifts must never be used as a tool of division, but as something that will build us up together as members of the body of Christ.

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you begin your day and do have Spirit- Filled Sunday. May the Holy Spirit come upon you and kindle in you the fire of His love. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: Acts 2:1-11/Psalm 104:1,2,24,29-31,34/1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13/John 20:19-23

Watch-Word: Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful; and kindle in them the fire of your love.

The Holy Spirit is here with us and He can help you shine again. Open your heart to Him, welcome Him and let Him revive you.

(Solemnity of the Pentecost. Cycle A.)