Delivered by Vici from the Parish of Saint John the Baptist in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Isaiah 11: 1-10; Rs psalm 72: 2.7-8.12-13.17; Luke 10: 21-24.

THEHOLY SPIRIT IS IN YOU

Ourmeditation today is entitled: The Holy Spirit is in You. There was a celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation in a remote parish. The bishop came to that parish one day before the celebration. Candidates for theSacrament of Confirmation weremore than 300 people. Most of them come from various villages which are locatedfar apart from one another.

Theyare young people, the majority of whom are teenagers. They walked along pathsup the mountain and down the valley. They were willing to get caught in the rain andstruggle to tread slippery and muddy roads. Their new and clean clothes were wrapped in such a way so as not to getwet and dirty. They walked along the waybarefoot.

Duringthe homily at Holy Mass, the Bishop encouraged all the young recipients of theSacrament of Confirmation, saying: “You have the Holy Spirit within you. ThisHoly Spirit does not stay silent or hide, but He really works and controlsyou.” All the young people who came from faraway villages agreed with what theshepherd said. The Spirit of God really burned their spirits from the momentthey departed from their respective villages until the time they received thesign of the anointing of the power of the Holy Spirit by the Bishop.

TheHoly Spirit has power to fill the person who receives it and makes him amissionary. The fullness of the Holy Spirit is expressed by the first readingof the book of the prophet Isaiah today, which says that the Spirit of God gives him the Spirit of wisdom andunderstanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and piety, and the Spirit of fear of God.

Those hundreds of young recipients of theSacrament of Confirmation and all of us who have been gifted with the HolySpirit on theoccasions of Sacrament of Confirmation in the past, are missionaries. We have received the HolySpirit who fills us, and we are sent to our respective places to be witnessesfor Christ. The world around us, especially those around us, have the right toreceive God's blessings through our good deeds that are full of love from the testimony of ourlives.

Today'sreadings mention two basic legitimacy for someone who is sent. A messenger inthe ministry of word, sacrament, love and pastoral not in his own name, but inthe name of Jesus Christ and is filled with the Holy Spirit. To carry out thistask, he incarnates or unites with the local context and people where he livesand works. Thus his missionary spirit is real and true.

Let's pray. In the name of theFather... O Lord Jesus, may we be more diligent in carrying out Your mission inour respective duties and works. Glory to theFather and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father...