By 生命恩泉 Fountain of Love and Life
The podcast currently has 11 episodes available.
We humans like to know our destiny —— where we are going. We are anxious and worried about many things (cf. Luke 10:38-42) because of the uncertainty of what the future may hold. We want more security as a result!
As Christians, we want to know our mission on earth —— where we are called to belong, and who we are called to be. But before we know who we should become, we need to know who we are, our true identity. Identities help us define our roles and missions on earth. Our identity defines everything in our lives!Identity is a relational concept. It relates us to others. Since we are created by God and for God, our identity as God’s children and as Christians are our most important identities. That makes growing our relationship with God first and foremost in our priorities in life. Back to the basic question we asked on Day 1 of this retreat: why is there a need to relate to the Holy Spirit?
As prayer is the most important means for us to relate to God, the Spirit’s role in helping us relate and communicate with God is indispensable if we desire an intimate relationship with God.
That is why Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit is the best gift God can ever give us!
"And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. … If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9, 13)
That is why Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given you” because God gives us the Spirit to intercede for us, and what the Spirit desires must match the Father’s will.
Practically, the Spirit helps us understand the Truth that Jesus taught us (cf. John 14:17) and thus helps us to be holy, conforming us to the image of God. He conveys God’s Word to us and thus helps us make decisions in life and discern our life’s mission. Finally, He also bestows on us supernatural power by granting us different charisms so that we can do greater things as instructed by Jesus (cf. John 14:12).
Oftentimes we do not ask God for the right things and we do not ask enough. Asking MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT is our best prayer to God because we are asking for something He desires to grant us.
On this Pentecost Sunday, let us ask boldly and wisely to receive MORE of the Holy Spirit into our lives. This is the day to immerse ourselves in the Love of God, who is the Holy Spirit. Ask God to bless us with a life-transforming encounter with Him, with as many gifts as He wishes to grant us to be a channel of His love to others, and with divine power to become bold witnesses for Christ to the world.
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
With expectant faith, be ready that all of your wishes above will be fulfilled! And you will come out of the baptism in the Holy Spirit a new creation, with confidence and power!
Baptism in the Holy Spirit often takes place in a community setting. Community members experience deep bonds of fellowship with brothers and sisters with whom they share a common life in the Spirit. There is a new recognition of our interdependence in the body of Christ, and our obligation to put our gifts at the service of others. (cf. Page 29 of “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” by the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services Doctrinal Commission)
Community setting allows members to use, confirm, and collaborate with one another on charisms given by God to each member. In doing so, members can encourage and reinforce one another to be good stewards of the talents God has entrusted to us and to become the best versions of ourselves!That is why the first Pentecost did not happen privately but when they were all together in one place (cf. Acts 2:1-4).
Jesus entrusted the Church to His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, through St. John. She is the perfect collaborator of the Holy Spirit as she has completely immersed herself in Him. Let us learn from our Heavenly Mother to be the perfect vessel of God by emptying and surrendering ourselves to God the Holy Spirit every moment of our lives.
REFLECTION
Do I see the gift of the Holy Spirit as evidence of God’s love for me?
How much do I desire to be immersed in the Holy Spirit and be taken over by Him?
As a Temple of the Holy Spirit, do I see myself as a carrier of God’s love to those around me?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for accompanying me to journey through these 10 days as I encounter You in a deeper way. Grant me more desire to be immersed in Your Love and be taken over by You. Help me to surrender to You more and more each day as I deepen my relationship with the Father and Jesus. Please continue to enlighten me of my true identity as a child of God, so that I can better discern my role, and empower me to carry out my mission on earth. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, thank you for responding to my call to abide in me as I abide in you. I desire to release you from any fears and bondages so that you can be my bold witness to build the Kingdom of God on earth. You are to become the light of the world to cast away darkness, and a healer to release others who are in chains and pains. You are to become my arms and legs to bring my love to my sheep and to bring them back to the Father. Be not afraid as I will be with you always until the end of time. And I love you always!
When we think of the Holy Spirit, let’s call to mind one word: MORE! He is someone who desires one thing for us: MORE GOODNESS. And He does it without reservation and hesitation, and without cost. He lets nothing stop Him from granting everything we need to lead an abundant life, to ride out the storms of life, to be a faithful follower of Christ, to accomplish the Father’s will and missions for us in life, and ultimately to become who God wants us to be. And He accomplishes all of the above by first leading us to a more intimate relationship with the Father and Jesus. That is the HEART of everything! The Spirit, who is LOVE Himself, likes to fill our cups to the brim so that God’s love and power for us can overflow to those around us. That’s the Spirit’s work on each one of us personally because everyone of us is precious and unique to Him.
It is an act of our will to either surrender ours to the Spirit, or we deprive ourselves of the will of Him who desires to give us the very best!
SURRENDER becomes the key word here, a word that few people like. As Christ followers, it means letting go of one’s desires to seek and embrace the will of God. It involves our surrender to the lordship of Jesus, just as Jesus did to God the Father when He embraced His Father’s will to die for us on the cross. We should place Jesus in the first place and at the centre of our lives just as Jesus did to His Father, especially during His public ministry.
Acknowledging and repenting from our sins unlocks the first door towards a genuine surrender to the lordship of Jesus.As we turn to God and surrender our lives, the Spirit fills us with new life. Jesus said to us “He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38)
While God desires that we surrender our will to Him because it is for our own benefit, He never imposes His desire upon us. This is the basis of His unconditional love for us.
It necessitates a humble acceptance on our part that we just cannot control the outcomes of so many things in life. To waste time wrestling with them will only escalate our stress level and make us worry about too many things (cf. Luke 10:38-42). We will feel a huge relief and a renewed freedom when we refuse to grapple with things that we cannot change.
The more areas we allow the Spirit to take over, including those areas we think we can control, the easier our lives will become. The resulting growth of our faith in God transforms us into a person who lives in the moment to savor life more fully, radiates with joy and gratitude as we feel the wonders of God more readily, acts tenderly out of love rather than fear, and cooperates more completely with the Spirit to do the Father’s will.After all, surrender is not just a concept but a lifestyle. It is about our decision to make Jesus Lord and King of our lives. The moment we take Christ off His throne in our hearts, we limit the Spirit’s power and influence in our lives. The process of surrendering requires us to first place Jesus at the centre of our lives, to obey Jesus by keeping His commandments, and then to permit the Spirit to take control of our lives. Everything should begin with a humble and penitent heart, together with a deep desire to abide in the Father as His beloved child.
Like everything else that is worth doing, there is a price to pay in choosing to surrender. But since our God is a faithful God, we should not be afraid but be courageous in entrusting God with every outcome that He permits. If He did not spare His only begotten Son, there is absolutely nothing that prevents Him from giving us His best! His love for us never fails!
REFLECTION
Where in your life is God asking you to surrender?
Is there anything in your life that is bigger than God?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Loving Father, I surrender to You today with all my heart and soul. Please come into my heart in a deeper way. I say “Yes” to You today. I open all the secret places of my heart to You and say, “Come on in.” Jesus You are the Lord of my whole life. I believe in You and receive You as my Lord and Saviour. I hold nothing back. Holy Spirit, bring me to deeper conversion to the person of Jesus Christ. I surrender all to You: my health, my family, my resources, occupation, skills, relationships, time management, successes and failures. I release it, and let it go. I surrender my understanding of how things ought to be, my choices and my will. I surrender to You the promises I have kept and the promise I have failed to keep. I surrender my weakness and strengths to You. I surrender my emotions, my fears, my insecurities, my sexuality. Lord, I surrender my entire life to You, the past, the present and the future. In sickness and in health, in life and in death, I belong to You. (cf. Surrender Prayer from the book “Miracle Hour” by Linda Schubert)
Heavenly Father, I love you forever!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, your heartfelt surrender prayer is heard. As you offer yourself up to me, I can enter into your life fully and offer myself up completely for you. Never give in when you experience hardships as you always have me within you to accompany you and to strengthen you! I love you always!
Novena to the Holy Spirit:
Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Day Nine Receiving the Spirit“ Liberating the Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11:
There are different gifts but the same Spirit; there are different ministries but the same Lord; there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one the Spirit gives wisdom in discourse, to another the power to express knowledge. Through the Spirit one receives faith; by the same Spirit another is given the gift o...
Yesterday our theme was “The Spirit Empowers Us to Witness for Christ” and today’s theme is “The Spirit Empowers Us to Serve Others”. In fact, these are the two great commissions by Jesus to us as His followers. He did not leave us to figure out how to accomplish those two missions on our own. He has given us His Spirit to guide us and to empower us along the way. In witnessing for Christ, the Spirit leads us to encounter Jesus and the Father, and by sharing with others our ENCOUNTERS with God, we evangelize most effectively. In serving others, Jesus grants us service gifts through the Holy Spirit to provide us the resources and power so that we can serve one another effectively. These are the two major dimensions of how the Spirit empowers us in life.
Today, we will focus on these service gifts. Service gifts, or “Charisms”, are by nature other-focused instead of self-serving. Please note that these are not the same as the seven “Sanctifying Gifts” (Isaiah 11) that we received in Baptism and Confirmation.
While those seven sanctifying gifts are meant to make us holy by completing and perfecting the virtues of those who receive them (cf. CCC 1830-1831), service gifts are meant to be used for serving others, and in doing so, lead others to Christ in a way that is beyond our natural human abilities.While there are only seven sanctifying gifts, there are a great variety of service gifts that the Spirit can give us. These charisms are freely and uniquely given to each of us, rather than the same set of gifts being given to everyone. The Spirit distributes these gifts according to our roles, missions and needs. There are service gifts that are extraordinary in nature, for example, miracles, prophecies, healing, tongues, etc., or seemingly ordinary gifts, such as, hospitality, encouragement, pastoring, teaching, etc., that, when exercised, are supernaturally empowered and effective in bringing about God’s love and purposes.
“To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)
It is important to note that charisms are not indicators of how holy we are, no matter how spectacular it seems when we exercise those charisms. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord and follow the prompting of the Spirit, we learn to become more effective channels of God’s power and love for others. As gifts, charisms cannot be acquired through our own efforts. Instead, we should discover the gifts that the Lord has already given us.
By discovering, discerning and putting into practice the unique combination of service gifts that the Spirit has given us, we can fulfill the missions that God has called us to accomplish.As charisms are gifts and not indications of our accomplishments or level of holiness, we should not be shy to ask for gifts should there be needs in a community that are not fulfilled. It is not prideful for us to ask the Spirit for gifts in order to serve others, nor does it imply that we are not content with the gifts we have already been given. St. Paul said, “Make love your aim and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.” (1 Corinthians 14:1)
What St. Paul was teaching us is that as long as we are motivated by love, that we sincerely desire to serve others out of love instead of for personal gain, we should ask the Spirit for more gifts.God willing, He will grant us the gifts we need to serve others and let them experience His great love and power.
After all, St. Paul told us that we are in the same Body of Christ. God does not entrust us with individual missions that are disconnected from other members of the community. We are not called to work on individual projects. Just as body parts are given unique abilities to function well to serve the whole body, the missions and functions assigned to us are part of the bigger picture, the shared vision to build the Kingdom of God within the cities of men.
There is no differentiation of classes or ranks within this One Body. We are all equal in God’s eyes. Flowing through the Body is LOVE. It is Love, who is the Spirit, that bonds us together!The Holy Spirit acts like the nerves, or communication system within the body, carrying the signals from the head to each of us, and like the circulatory system, bringing us the necessary nourishment to sustain us in life through trials and tribulations, or even persecutions.
If we detach ourselves from the body, which consists of the head and other body parts, not only will the whole body be affected because of our functions not being fulfilled, but we ourselves will also wither and die eventually. Staying connected to the Church and being docile to the Spirit are signs of our Love for Christ.“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
REFLECTION
Do I tend to work on my own projects, or do I see myself as part of a bigger community?
Do I desire more service gifts from the Holy Spirit in order for me to serve others more effectively?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, You have opened my eyes and widened my vision to see the bigger picture of how the Father wants to use us to build His Kingdom on earth. I have mostly enclosed myself to work on my own things. Grant me a more generous heart and a desire to serve others with a pure intention of love. O Holy Spirit, send me out to serve others as Jesus would like me to do! I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, thank you for opening yourself up for the possibilities of Christ in you. Nothing is impossible for me. As you allow me to work in and through you, you will be amazed how much more you can accomplish and how you can be used in ways you have never imagined. Trust in me as I believe in you! I love you always!
Novena to the Holy Spirit:
Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire ...
From time to time, we all have something we would like to share with others: gifts for others for a special occasion; something good or amazing that we have come across, like good products or bargains. We also share our important experiences and memories, stories and inspirations, or our new ideas.
Sharing makes us feel good and improves our relationships because we focus on the wellbeing of others by sharing something good. In short, we share important things with those important to us.Whenever we share, if we genuinely desire the wellbeing of others, we want to make sure what we are sharing is accurate, is true or at least what we believe in. And if we want others to buy into what we believe, we bear witness for what we firmly believe in, hoping others will be convinced as a result. In the spiritual arena, we call this sharing bearing witness to others about our faith and the Good News! And as our faith becomes stronger, the desire to share and bear witness about the Good News also grows stronger.
There are different levels of effectiveness in how we share our faith with others.
If we want others to believe in what we have experienced, we want to share those experiences that represent significant moments in our faith journey. We share our conversion stories, especially those through which we were transformed. Those moments are called our ENCOUNTERS with God with any Person of the Holy Trinity.So, once we have experienced the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, it is only natural for us to share with others such wonderful encounters we have had with God. Through our personal testimonies, the Spirit is able to touch people’s hearts through us, leading them to think “If such an amazing encounter with God is possible for others, it may be possible for me, and I want it too.” As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, we will have multiple encounters with Him. When there is a chance to give a personal testimony, we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us which of our encounters with the Lord will most benefit the person or the audience. And surely the Holy Spirit will lead us as we speak for Him.
Before the Ascension of Jesus, He commissioned His disciples to go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Jesus told them to be witnesses of who He was and what had happened to Him. (cf. Luke 24:46-48) We should do what Jesus has commanded us to do not only by giving witness to all these things, but also by telling others what Jesus our Saviour means to us and what He has done for us personally. What we share will open others’ eyes and hearts, especially those of unbelievers, because their eyes have not seen and ears have not heard. That is why the Church needs witnesses! This is the way of the Lord in sending out witnesses throughout the world to testify for Him in front of others. This is exactly what all the saints throughout the ages had done before us, even as they faced trials and persecutions. In fact, the word “martyr” came from the Greek word “μάρτυς” meaning “witness”. Giving witnesses is especially effective in the postmodern world.
St. Pope Paul VI taught us that: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses,” (41, Evangeli Nuntiandi)
It is surely not about showing off that we are better than others, but a genuine desire for the best and welfare of others. We are not presenting ourselves as perfect individuals, as only God is perfect. We convince others as they see the transformation in us after we have proclaimed that Jesus is Lord of our lives.
Cardinal Emmanuel Célestin Suhard:
"To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda, nor even in stirring people up, but in being a living mystery. It means to live in such a way that one's life would not make sense if God did not exist."
Today’s popular culture has taught us to share everything on social media. Unfortunately, it seems that the focuses of our sharing are mainly on food, purchases, leisure activities, and all sorts of entertainment and material possessions. The whole human race is starving from true spiritual food from above. Our witnesses and faith stories are what we need to add to the mix!
REFLECTION
Am I excited about my faith? Do I have the desire to share with others the love of God and my personal encounter with Jesus?
Have I been too timid to speak up for my faith and for Christ? Is there anything that is holding me back from witnessing boldly for Christ?
Do I find I have nothing special to share with others about my faith? What is missing in my relationship with God?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, I know that nothing has held You back from loving me to the fullest and providing me with everything that I need. I am grateful for all that is You and all You have done for me. Grant me motivation to return Your love by bearing witness for Christ to the world. Supply me with whatever is lacking in order to boldly speak up for You and for my faith. I am still not ready, but I am willing! O Holy Spirit, send me!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, your agreement to be sent out as witness for Christ to the world has touched my heart. I will surely be with you as you stand up for your faith. Be not afraid as I will give you courage and words. Your love for me and for my sheep is sufficient to carry you through. Remember, I am the wind beneath your wings! I love you always!
Novena to the Holy Spirit:
Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Day Seven Receiving the Spirit “Repentance ”Acts 2:38:
Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins: and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Meditation:
We all have a mission on earth. By becoming who God wants us to be is how we can achieve that mission most effectively. And through completing our mission that we can most effectively be sanctified. The Spirit is entrusted with the mission to bring us close to the Father and the Son, to help us learn the truth and discern our mission on earth, to guide us to observe what Jesus has commanded us, and to attentively do the Father’s will. As mentioned yesterday, our role is to become the Spirit’s collaborator. We are in the same team and the Spirit is the leader. Being a team player requires us to stay connected and communicate with Him constantly. And there is no better way to communicate with Him than prayer. That is why when the Holy Spirit is active in our lives, we have a new desire for prayer. As a result, there is usually a change in our prayer experience. One significant change is our desire to listen to God in prayer, rather than just to speak non-stop.
We often hear people complaining about not being able to hear God’s voice. But logic tells us that the Spirit being the perfect leader, He surely desires to speak to us. Not that He only wants to give us instructions but He first desires to relate to us personally through His words.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
God the Holy Spirit, being sent to us by Jesus as our Advocate, builds the same kind of “Shepherd-sheep” relationship with us. In order to be safe, we, as sheep, need to learn to recognize the Spirit’s voice in our lives. One strong sign that we allow the Spirit to be active in our lives is that we have a new desire to hear His voice. This desire naturally leads us to spending more time in prayer. It is how we can stay connected to Him, like the branches connected to the Vine.
The Scripture becomes alive, like God speaking to us personally. We feel the connection, and the texts become more relevant to our lives. Scriptures we have heard numerous times before take on new meaning and clarity.
Having sudden and profound new enlightenments and deeper insights into the Christian mysteries are not uncommon among those whose lives are filled with the Spirit.For any relationship to thrive, it needs to be maintained, which requires investment of our time and effort. It is even more crucial as we nurture the most important relationship of all, one with the everliving God. Such a relationship cannot be driven by our impulses or preferences but with consistent effort and discipline.
Our common enemies are “busyness” and “distractions”. Satan likes to inject noises into our lives to distract us from listening attentively to God. Only in silence and in solitude can we feel the strongest presence of God.Please do not be fooled by believing that praying on the road and on the job will suffice. And never let busyness steal God away from you.
Everyone of us needs half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy - then we need an hour.” —— St. Francis de Sales
As our prayer life matures and our relationship with God becomes intimate, we begin to realize that God speaks to us in many different ways through countless means.
If we are attentive enough, we find God in all things. He just can’t get enough of us! With a discerning heart, we begin to understand God more readily and truly know His voice. Discerning and following God’s will become easier in life.
Sacraments help us to sustain our prayer life, especially the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Instituted by Jesus Himself for us, these Sacraments are our lifelines connecting us to the Vine.
A genuine relationship is, after all, a commitment. The mutual commitment in a relationship is what makes it beautiful. A healthy relationship requires effort from both sides. An unbalanced relationship is one that is shaky.
God is so serious about our relationship that He has established covenants with us. Whenever we cry for help, God is there for us, acting and responding to our needs. And He always keeps His covenant. As we listen to God, we should pay Him the same respect, receiving His words by listening to as well as acting on them. This is what real listening is all about.If we do not take actions on what God is telling us, why should we expect God to answer us when we call for help?
REFLECTION
Am I worried about too many things, and constantly occupied with too many distractions and noises?
How am I going to create a space to listen to God’s voice?
Do I tend to speak instead of listen when I pray? Do I truly believe in and act on what God is telling me, especially through the Bible?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, You know me and call me by name, yet I do not know You well enough to recognize Your voice in my life. I have been keeping myself too busy and distracted to allow You to speak to me. Please grant me the desire and a listening heart to hear Your voice and to act on it. I resolve to love You with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, encounter me in silence and I will outpour my love for you. I dwell in you in the depth of your heart where you can hear my voice. You are my temple where I take delight and abide in. Know that a life without prayer is a life without power, because I am the Source of divine power. Remain in me as I remain in you. I love you always!
Novena to the Holy Spirit:
Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Day Six Desiring the Spirit “Trust” Luke 1: 35-38:
The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence the Holy Offspring to be born will be called Son of God. Know that Elizabeth your kinswoman has conceived a son in her old age, she who was thought to be sterile is now in her sixth month for nothing is impossible with God. Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.”
Meditation:
Once I am “born of the Spirit.” the Spirit is my life’s breath. Within me is the Life of life. It is the same Life that throughout the ages has helped God’s children through peril, adversity, and sorrow. I must try never to doubt or worry, but follow where the Life of the Spirit lea...
On Day 2 of this retreat, we said that when the Holy Spirit is active in our lives, we begin to have a new desire for holiness and a new thirst for prayers, reading the Scripture and receiving Sacraments. Today, we will talk about how the Holy Spirit makes us holy. Please note that we are not saying “how we make ourselves holy” but rather “how the Spirit makes us holy”. There is a huge difference between the two. As we mentioned in our Pentecost retreat last year, attaining holiness is simply beyond what we can achieve by our own power. There is no single formula or set program to follow.
Just as we cannot change others no matter how hard we try, we also need the humility to admit that we cannot change ourselves without the help of the Spirit.This is not a statement of hopelessness, but a great relief for all of us. It is the Spirit’s job to change us and to mold us. All we need to do is not to resist Him as we surrender ourselves to allow the Spirit to “operate” on us. Simply put:
We should resist the temptation to attain holiness by ourselves. Let us be reminded that the Holy Spirit has more desire to sanctify us than ourselves. Our role is to become His collaborator.What we can offer is our openness, humility, and our willingness to be changed. This change in attitude makes possible the Spirit's work upon us to sanctify us.
On our path to holiness, we will experience deeper conversion along the way. “This is often manifested in a newfound authority to resist sinful tendencies, a freedom from addictions or deep-rooted patterns of sin, and the healing of relationships, especially in marriage and family. Growth in holiness becomes less a matter of self-striving and more a yielding to the Holy Spirit. There is a new awakened attentiveness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, which leads to a deeper obedience to the Lord.” (Extracted from Pages 18-19 of the book “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” by the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services Doctrinal Commission)
The Spirit formed us in our mother’s womb according to the Father’s design. When the Spirit looks at us, He does not focus on our past sins and present weaknesses. He sees how beautiful we will become when we are fully open to His transforming power. He knows how we can reach our full potential in order to accomplish God’s mission for us on earth. As such, there is no better way to attain holiness, that is to become the person we are called to be, than listening to and following the prompts of the Holy Spirit.
We need to learn to let go of control, following our own agenda or else the Spirit cannot enter into our lives to work on us.At our baptism, the seven sanctifying gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us to mold and transform us into the image and likeness of God. (Note: 7 sanctifying gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.) By abiding in God like branches remaining in the Vine (cf. John 15:1-11), these gifts will help us bear great fruits. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
How well we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in using the seven sanctifying gifts for holiness can be gauged by how fruitful we are in bearing the fruit of the Spirit. It is really the evidence of our sanctification.Every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. (Matthew 7:17-18)
A healthy trait of someone thirsting for holiness is to follow role models. It is a sign of humility to be willing to be led. Saints, especially Mother Mary, offer us great examples that Holiness is possible in all circumstances, even amidst extreme sufferings and persecutions. It offers us hope as we struggle our way through trials and tribulations of our own. Here, the sanctifying gifts of wisdom and knowledge guide us in choosing which Saints to follow as we desire to choose God over earthly things, God’s will over my will.
Remember, personal sanctification is a unique spiritual journey on our way back to the Father’s House. It is not a race nor can it be compared with those of others.
When God calls us to be perfect, what He hopes for is that we become who He wants us to be, which is our final destination.“Perfection is reached not so much by external conformity to an ideal as by inner faithfulness to God's inspirations.” – Fr. Jacques Philippe
REFLECTION
It is good to examine on a daily basis how well we have done in terms of bearing the Fruit of the Spirit. Making this a habit greatly helps us to grow in holiness. Was I loving and kind to my family members?
Did I show patience and gentleness to those who have offended me?
Did I remain joyful and peaceful as I went through trials and tribulations?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for your perfect example of what it means to bear fruit in and through You. You showed patience and gentleness when I ignored Your prompts and went my own way. You withheld Your anger and continued to show kindness when I disappointed You. You have remained faithful and generous to me when I have rejected You and walked away. And most importantly, You love me the way I am when I feel unworthy of Your love! How could I treat You like that when You have given me everything in my best interest. O Spirit of the living God, help me surrender my control and lead me to a deeper obedience to Your holy prompts. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, it has brought me great joy that you grant me permission to enter into your life. I want to assure you that I can help you attain holiness when you stay connected to me under all circumstances. My power and my grace are sufficient for you even when you feel weak and weary. Remain in me as I remain in you. I love you always!
Novena to the Holy Spirit:
Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Day Five Desiring the Spirit Thirst” John 7: 37-39:
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: Rivers of living water will flow from within him.” He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive. There was of course no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Medit...
As our relationship with each Person of the Holy Trinity gets closer and we know our own identity better, the Holy Spirit becomes more active in our lives. People around us see noticeable changes in us because we are being molded and we can also feel the difference. Our prayer life begins to evolve from a purely petitional or intercessory style, which tends to be like a monologue, to one that is more relational. That is, we converse with and relate to God more for who He is, rather than focusing on what He can do for us. And for what He has done for us, we become more grateful.
As our relationship with God continues to grow, praising God out of gratitude becomes a natural response to our overall experience of God as a loving Father, and as our saving Lord.That explains the numerous accounts of people praising God in the Bible.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)
However, for many of us, we find ourselves praising God only when we are told or feel obligated to do so, for example, during the liturgies. Praising God out of obligation or without a genuine heart is not meaningful to us. On the other hand, praising God with conviction and the right attitude can intensify our intimacy with God, and thus have a transforming effect on us!
The Spirit helps activate our habit of praising God
Typically, we praise others when we are grateful to them. When we face difficulties in life, we are often reminded to count our blessings. It is done so that we can be made aware of God’s graces and providence in our lives, and we become more grateful, hopeful and joyful as a result. Such intentionality will slowly become natural the more we taste the goodness of God through a more frequent and deeper encounter of God’s love led by the Spirit. As this “mechanism of gratefulness” is activated by the Spirit, we praise God more. At the same time, the Spirit joins us in our praises. As we praise more, the Spirit’s presence in our lives becomes stronger.
As we praise God out of a heart of gratitude, we fix our gaze on the loving care and power of God, rather than our weaknesses, deficiencies, and sinfulness. It helps us to overlook our brokenness while lifting our spirit and soul to our Almighty God.
Praising God gives us Joy
As we become more present and closer to God, it brings Him great joy! Reciprocally, as we remain in His love, His joy will be in us and our joy will be complete. That is the ultimate goal of God for us according to Jesus. (cf. John 15:10-11)
Praising God gives us New Lenses
Praising God “opens doors” to blessings from above in times of troubles. Not that blessings are absent at times of trials but our eyes and hearts close in to make us blind to blessings as we focus our attention only on the imminent hurdles and sufferings.
Praising God helps us refocus our gazes on God, turning our inward-looking self-centred mode back to other-focused Christ-Centred mode. As we praise God, we are also giving the Spirit permission to act upon us. When He acts, both healings and miracles begin to happen! And signs and wonders begin to accompany our works.“About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.” (Acts 16:25-26)
Here we can witness that not only does praising God bring us joy and hope amidst sufferings, but God also responds and accompanies us with miracles and wonders! And we begin to taste what it is like when the Spirit lives and acts in and through us. That is the reason why it is even more important to praise God during trials and storms in our lives!
Praising God unifies us before God
As we sing praises to God together, we can have a very edifying experience when our different voices blend together harmoniously. It unifies us and helps break barriers of our differences. It brings tremendous joy to God to see us in perfect communion, enjoying each other’s company and abiding in Him. As you can imagine, praising God together can intensify our encounter with God. It is like singing together with all the angels and saints, giving us a real taste of Heaven on earth.
REFLECTION
Have you been grateful to God by giving Him praises in your life? Please spend some time to reflect on that and see how you can do better.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for making me aware of my lack of gratitude and not making enough effort to praise You. I beg you to forgive my ungrateful heart with all the disappointments and heartbreaks that I have caused You through the years. Please replace my heart of stone with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Bless the Lord, O my soul, don’t allow me to forget all your benefits! (Psalm 103:2) I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, I forgive you. It is consoling to me to see your penitent heart. Give me your heart, and I will give you a new one. My only wish is that you remain always with me, and that your joy be complete! I love you always!
Novena to the Holy Spirit:
Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Day Four Desiring the Spirit“ Belief” Luke 11:9-13:
And I tell you, ask and you will receive: seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For anyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
Meditation:
God is all around us. His Spirit pervades the universe and yet we do not let His Spirit in. We try to get along without His help and we make a mess of our liv...
Just as Jesus was sent by God the Father with a mission to enter into humanity by becoming human Himself, to dwell among us and to relate personally to us, the Holy Spirit was sent by God the Father and God the Son to enter into our lives by dwelling within us and working through us. While the Spirit manifests Himself very differently than Jesus, His presence does not eclipse the role of the Father and of the Son in our lives. In fact, very much the opposite, He leads us closer to the Father and the Son. In a nutshell, the Spirit is commissioned to convict us, confirm us, and conform us to God. Let us elaborate more on each of these.
The goal is not to leave us in despair and hopelessness, but rather, to convince us that we need a Saviour and we have hope. Jesus is the Lord and Saviour of our lives. When the Spirit comes and fills us, immediately things like scales will fall from our eyes. The Spirit reveals to us the true motives and the effects of our sins.
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our perception of Jesus changes. He is no longer a historical figure from 2000 years ago who left us nothing but moral rules and boundaries. Our personal encounters with Jesus allow us to experience Him as the true Saviour and Lord who is alive and active in our lives today. ‘No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit’ (1 Cor 12: 3)
That means whatever belongs to God and to Christ belongs to us! Unbelievable and unthinkable! If this does not wow you, think again! ‘When we cry, “Abba! Father!”, it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.’ (Roman 8:15-16)
Yet, when we call “our Father” every time we say the Lord’s Prayer, this relationship with our Heavenly Father is oftentimes based on a vague image of this Heavenly Father, or on an intellectual understanding of Him. And this relationship is normally affected by our relationship with our earthly father, which, for some of us, might be unaffectionate and distant in nature. Past wounds and the secular culture of transaction-based love relationships may prompt us to believe that we need to earn the Father’s love, which is against God’s compassionate nature, and that contributes to our inability to relate to God as a good Father. However, when the Holy Spirit is active in our lives, we very often experience an overwhelming sense of God’s love for us, surpassing anything that we can ever earn or deserve. The power of the Father’s love can fill any void which was a result of love deprivation in our own lives, making us whole again.
REFLECTION
What is your image of the Heavenly Father? Is He a loving Father or an unapproachable figure? Can you feel the love of the Father in your heart, or is it more head knowledge?
How has your relationship with your earthly father affected how you see your Heavenly Father?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Come, Holy Spirit! Dwell in me and transform me! I know You desire to guide me to form an intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father and Jesus and it is Your will for me to experience the realness and power of God. Yet, I am weak and I need your help. Open my eyes to see clearly, and my ears to listen attentively to Your holy prompt. I place my trust in You. I give You the permission to mold me and transform me into the image and likeness of God. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, please know that I am here for you, I am never beyond reach. My love for you is gentle as a dove. Never stay away from me, as I never for you. With your permission, I will do everything I can to lead you closer to me, to Jesus, and to the Father. Thank you for placing your complete trust in me. I love you always!
Novena to the Holy Spirit:
Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Day Three Needing the Spirit “Peace” Galatians 5:22-25:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions & desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
Meditation:
This is the time for my spirit to touch the Spirit of God. I know that the feeling of the Spirit –touch is more important than all the sensations of material things. I must seek a silence in which my spirit can receive and become aware of the touch of the Spirit of God. Just a moment’s contact and all the fever of life leaves me. Then I am well, whole, calm, and able to rise and minister to others. God’s touch is a potent healer. I must feel that touch and sense God’s presence.
Prayer of the Day:
Blessed Jesus, please give to me stillness of soul and let your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me Lord of gentleness, Lord of peace. Give me great power of self-control over my words, thoughts and actions. From all irritability, want of meekness, want of kindness; deliver me, dear Lord. Amen
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into heaven, did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the...
Through yesterday’s reflection, we hope you are inspired to nurture a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit. You may wonder, what is it like to have an intimate relationship with Him?
When we live in the Holy Spirit and He dwells in us, there are typically noticeable changes that people around us are able to see in us.After the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples were all terrified. They were scattered and they hid themselves. The apostles were hiding in the upper room behind locked doors. This remained the same even after Jesus had resurrected and appeared to them.
Yet, a remarkable change happened on the day of the Pentecost! As they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were instantly transformed! Fears were wiped away. They were empowered and began to boldly proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. They began to perform miracles and healings as Jesus once did. They could even cast out demons in Jesus’ name.The once timid Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to the people gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14) The Spirit empowered him to speak so boldly that about three thousand persons accepted his message and were baptized immediately that day, which was a powerful display of how the Spirit could touch the hearts of many! Things such as that had never happened before!
Pope Benedict said on Pentecost 2008, “Today I would like to extend this invitation to everyone: Let us rediscover, dear brothers and sisters, the beauty of being baptized in the Holy Spirit”
And Pope Francis said on June 1, 2014, “I expect from you that you share with everyone in the Church the grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit.”
Both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis mentioned Baptism in the Holy Spirit, an expression we find in the Acts of the Apostles and in all four Gospels, which appears to be something not all baptized Christians (Catholics) have received. You may ask, then what actually is “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”?
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a life-transforming experience of the love of God the Father poured into one’s heart by the Holy Spirit and is received through a surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
There are some typical characteristics of a person who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit. First, she begins to relate to God the Father as Abba, which in today’s term is like calling God the Father “daddy”. What used to be head knowledge about the love of God now becomes heart knowledge. Secondly, she experiences Jesus as her Saviour and Lord who graciously acts in her life. And then she begins to have a new desire for holiness and a new thirst for prayers, reading the Scripture and receiving Sacraments. Lastly, she also has a new desire and new capacity to share her experiences with others, that is, to give witness and to evangelize.As we prepare ourselves to celebrate the upcoming Pentecost, let us pray to the Holy Spirit to grant us a deeper desire for this kind of life-transforming experience and to resolve to give Him the permission to mold and form us.
In the next few days, we will take a closer look at some of the characteristics of those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and see how the Holy Spirit can change our lives.
REFLECTION
Are you longing for a positive change in your life from where you are at this time? Are you willing to allow God the Holy Spirit to be the change agent to take you by hand to make the change?
In preparation for the upcoming Pentecost, do you have a renewed desire for holiness and a better prayer life?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God the Holy Spirit, thank you for helping me experience the realness of Abba Father and giving me the thirst to get close to Him! I understand that these experiences are not the reward for my effort, but rather grace that You desire to pour into the hearts of those who are open to You. Please help me open more of my heart to truly welcome You, and enlighten me of any obstacles within me that may be blocking You from entering into my heart. I place everything in Your hands. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, I desire to let you see your true identity and your real potentials. You are like hidden treasures to be discovered. But those treasures have to be first discovered by you. My desire to dwell in you is to tenderly love you, enlighten you, and empower you to become whom Abba Father wants you to be. Pentecost can only become powerful collectively if individuals like yourself are transformed and on fire. It all starts with you, my child! I love you always!
Novena to the Holy Spirit:
Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Day Two Needing the Spirit “Beloved of God” Romans: 8:2, 5, 14-16:
For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law of sin and death. Those who live according to the flesh are concerned with things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit the things of the spirit. For those who are lead by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. But you received a spirit of adoption by which we cry, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Meditation:
And greater works than these shall you do. Each individual has the ability to do good works through the power of God’s Spirit. This is one of the wonders of the world, the miracle of the earth, that God’s power goes out to bless the human race through the agency of so many people who are actuated by His grace. We need not be held back by doubt, despondency and fear. A wonderful future lies before any person who depends on God’s power; a future of tremendous power to do good work.
Prayer for the Day:
Lord, you said in your Word that those who are lead by the Spirit of God are your own children. Lord, I turn from setting my mind on the things of the flesh and I asked to be focused on things of the Spirit that I might please you. Holy Spirit, come to the aid of my weakness and intercede for me in accordance with the mind of God. Oh, how I long to call you “Abba!” Help me be open to the Spirit that I can truly testify that I am your beloved child. Amen.
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into heaven, did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He ...
When did the Holy Spirit first appear in the Bible?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)
In the first two verses of the Bible, before anything was created, the Spirit of God was there like the wind, representing the creative and life-giving power of God. Towards the end of God’s Creation,
the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)
God breathed His Spirit into Adam to give him life. The same Spirit who gave life to Adam has also given us life. Yet, most of us do not know God the Holy Spirit even though through Him man became a living being, and through Him, our lives are sustained.
Many of us have no relationship with God the Spirit who is a Person in the Holy Trinity. Many of us know in our heads that we receive the Holy Spirit in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. But then the relationship stops right there. Many of us wonder why there is a need to relate to the Spirit as we believe we can equally relate to God through Jesus and the Father. Aren’t they the same God after all? Subconsciously, we might believe that the Holy Spirit is simply a tool or a concept, secondary to the Father and the Son.
Throughout human history, God has communicated to us through different means, and even through His different Persons. It is like God is nurturing us through His different “characters”. We can think of it this way: When we were babies, our mother played a key role; but as we grew up, our father took on a more prominent role; and when we became adults, both parents sort of hide themselves in the background, allowing us to make choices and grow in our ways while helping us silently.
The Holy Spirit, who is also God Himself, is the silent helper, our Advocate, entrusted with the important mission to help us choose Jesus and to follow His commandments in life in order to do the Father’s will. The Spirit helps us grow in holiness and learn to love others as Jesus has loved us.Just as the mother knows when to allow the father to play a stronger role in a family, God the Father stayed in the background as Jesus took the centre stage to save us from our sins.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
With the institution of the Church, Jesus has ushered in a new era, a time when the Holy Spirit becomes a key player. By God’s design, the Holy Spirit has moved from the background to the foreground. And Jesus instructed us to wait for the coming of the Spirit before commencing the mission entrusted to us:
Jesus said: And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)
Even though Jesus wanted to remain with His disciples, He knew He needed to leave. So He told His disciples:
It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)
If Jesus, who is God Himself, was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), and whose ministry was empowered by the Spirit (Luke 4:14), and He was resurrected by the Spirit (Romans 8:11), how much more important it is for us to live by and in the Holy Spirit!
REFLECTION
How is your relationship with the Holy Spirit? Would you like to nurture a more intimate relationship with Him?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God the Holy Spirit, I know that You are real and you are my God, but I am not always able to connect with you in my daily life. Grow in me a desire to know you, to seek you, and to experience you. Grant me a spirit of openness and a softened heart as I learn to feel your presence in my life and resolve to nurture a deeper relationship with you! I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, please know that I have always been there for you (cf. Psalm 139) whether or not you can feel my presence. Know that I was there when you were formed in the womb (cf. Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:13). I was there when you were baptized and confirmed. From now on, take my hand as I guide you and protect you. I desire to abide in you as you abide in me (cf. John 14:16-20, John 15:1-10, 1 John 4:13). I love you always!
Novena to the Holy Spirit:
Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Day One Needing the Spirit “Drawing Near” Ezekiel 36:26-28:
I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my Spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees. You shall live in the land I gave your fathers, you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Meditation:
Our need is God’s opportunity. But we must acknowledge our need. Often this means helplessness before some weakness or sickness and an admission of our need for help. Next comes faith in the power of God’s Spirit, available to us to meet that need. Our faith must find some expression before any need will be met. That expression of faith is all God is looking for, and He will manifest His power in our lives. Faith is the key that allows us to receive the storehouse of God’s resources.
Prayer for the Day:
Lord, I know I can come before you with confidence that by your grace you accept me. I ask you Lord to make my life what you desire of it. Cleanse me, heal me, restore me and through your divine power draw me near to you in everything. Thank you for supplying me with all I need through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into...
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