SPIRIT AND LIFE
Welcome to the 7th Sunday of Easter. Having just celebrated the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday, we are now in the 9-Day period (Novena) when we are preparing for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us at Pentecost next Sunday.
Our scriptures today speak about the Holy Spirit of God’s Life in the Church. Recall that in John Chapter 6 Verse 63, Jesus said that “It is the Spirit that brings life; the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit & life.” Jesus said these words in the discourse on the Bread of Life (the Eucharist). He Himself said: “I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35). For the Church, ‘the Eucharist is the source & summit of the Christian life ‘(CCC No 1324). The invocation of the Holy Spirit upon the gifts of bread & wine (Epiclesis) makes these gifts holy and the words of consecration spoken make them the Body & Blood of Christ. We see thus the intimate connection of the Holy Spirit & the Words of Jesus bringing life to the Church & its members through the Holy Eucharist.
In today’s 1st Reading, it is the Holy Spirit who guided the early Church to replace Judas (who betrayed Jesus) with Matthias & keep the witnessing of the apostles to Jesus’ resurrection unimpeded. Through the Spirit directing their preaching of the Word of Eternal Life (cf John 6:68) & their testimony of the Resurrection of Jesus & His Lordship, the Life of the Church continued to thrive, grow & bear fruit.
Our Gospel from John 17:11-19 indeed reveals Jesus’ plan for the life of the Church, to dwell in unity & love, brought about by the Holy Spirit. Our 2nd Reading from 1 John 4:11-16 reinforces this crucial aspect of Church – being loved by God, loving one another & living in union with Christ & each other by our sharing of Jesus’ Spirit (cf 1 John 4:11,13).
Participants & Facilitators (Guests & Hosts) in our Parish’s current Alpha Program had a taste of Spirit and Life last Saturday at our Holy Spirit Day. After watching videos on the Holy Spirit, His actions in our life & how we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, all of us who gathered, Catholics & non-Catholics alike, experienced the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Praying Over session. Many felt God’s love in their hearts given to us by the Holy Spirit (cf Romans 5:5). We also had an overwhelming sense of joy, peace, comfort, forgiveness & freedom, knowing that we are loved by God as his adopted sons & daughters (cf Rom 8:14-16).
My dear brothers & sisters in the Lord Jesus, how do you feel about the Holy Spirit filling you with God life? Would you like to experience more love, more joy, more peace, more fruitfulness in your life? Then this week, as we prepare for Pentecost, call out to the Holy Spirit who resides in your baptized soul as in a temple to fill you with more of His Presence.
Here's a lovely song, called ‘Holy Spirit, Rain Down”. May the Holy Spirit fill you with God’s love & draw you closer to Jesus, our Risen Saviour, & enable you to declare all your life that “Jesus is Lord”!
https://youtu.be/ENxmSYfoRXE?si=1kcr1CzlCASI0hFB
Article by Damian Boon, HFC Blog Team Lead