Leap!

Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.    Lk.1:41 

Mary visits Elizabeth and as soon as she approaches her Elizabeth’s child leaps in her womb and bang, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Now here’s a fresh thought, for me anyway. Mary can be a way of being filled with the Holy Spirit. I’m currently in Assisi and grottos with statues of Mary are everywhere. These have been occupying my “Catholic Shelf” for a while. Hmmm…….

Mary Mother of God, pray for me that I may receive a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit of God like Elizabeth, that your son may be glorified in me. Saint Elizabeth, pray for me.

God is Close

Since the God who made the world and everything in it is himself Lord of heaven and earth, he does not make his home in shrines made by human hands. Nor is he dependent on anything that human hands can do for him.    Acts 17:24,25 

 Saint Paul is speaking to the Greeks of Athens, starting his preaching by acknowledging the Greek’s worship of “the Unknown God”. Paul expounds that this God they already worship is in fact the God of the Universe who made everything and is not found in idols but in all that he created.

 The past week has seen me in some very holy places, in front of staggeringly beautiful art, even in front of the bones of Saint Peter. Yet Saint Paul reminds me these are not the home of God, as beautiful and sacred as they are. He goes on to say, “he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.”

 Today I am ascending Montecassino, another “thin place”, a place where the barrier between God and me is very thin. Yet, it is not the home of God. His home is in all his creation, including me.

 Lord Jesus, help me see you in the least as well as the great. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Little Flower, please pray for me.

The Way

Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus said: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’
Jn.14:5,6

Jesus has just washed the disciples feet at the Last Supper and now continues his final teaching to his disciples. He has told them he is going to prepare a place for them, that they know the way to this place. He is the way.

This is the inconvenient truth. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus. Other faiths and religions have elements of truth but only Christianity unequivocally states this. Jesus said it. I believe it.

Jesus describing the Father's house with many room prepared is read at many funerals. For good reason. Jesus said it to comfort his disciples prior to his Passion. He says it today to comfort me and to encourage me to follow "The Way".

Lord Jesus, you are my way, my truth, my life. I place my trust in you.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Love Joy Love Joy Love

I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.Jn.15:11,12

The Last Supper has finished. Jesus is giving his very final teaching to the Apostles. His last command to them is to love.

When a man knows he is about to die he chooses his words carefully. The last message will always be be the most import message. For Jesus this was "Love one another, then your joy will be complete".

The message for me is clear. Do I want joy? Then love others. A great focus for me today.

Lord Jesus, my desire is for your joy in me to be complete. Show me people to love today.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Food for the Journey

‘Sir,’ they said ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered: ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst.’
Jn.6:34,35

News of the feeding of the five thousand has spread. People are clamouring after Jesus for more miracles but knowing their hearts are in the wrong place he simply gives them the Good News. 'I am the bread of life'.

Jesus is about to give his powerful discourse on his body and blood, the teaching too hard for many then and too hard for many now. But the truth remains. Am I hungry? Is there a gnawing dissatisfaction in my life making me constantly search for the next big thing? Am I always thirsty, never completely sated? Jesus says 'Come and eat. Come and drink'.

Jesus, you are my bread of life. Thank you Lord for your body and blood freely given, my food for the journey.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Boldness and Courage

The members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.    

Acts.6:15

Stephen has been working great miracles in Jesus' name, gaining the attention of the Sanhedrin.  He is arrested with false charges and made to appear before the court. Rather than being fearful, Stephen appears radiant.

This man is facing death and yet he appears to have the face of an angel. The Holy Spirit is in him, prompting him as to what to say. Like Peter, the Holy Spirit gives Stephan boldness and courage.

Boldness and courage. These are among the first fruits of the Holy Spirit, especially when proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. Our first Alpha leaders team meeting is tonight. Many of the team are uncertain and fearful of what may be asked of them. Come Holy Spirit!

Come Holy Spirit of God, give boldness and courage to the Alpha team tonight, starting with me, that Jesus may be lifted up and all men drawn to him.
Saint Stephen, pray for us.

Good News!

I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day.    1Cor.15:3,4

Paul is writing to the Church in Corinth reminding them of what he taught regarding the basis of their faith, what was the essential Good News of the message.

What is the "Good News" of the gospel? Here we have it. Christ died for our sins, was buried, then rose again on the third day. We say this every time we go to Mass. It is the mystery of faith acclamation said in the liturgy of the eucharist. Chris has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. It is the Paschal mystery, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, central to our Catholic faith.

This is so familiar that its significance can be lost to me. This is good news indeed! Easter is a great time to recall this good news and celebrate the joy of it. This is the source of my Easter joy today, a joy that I can share.

Alleluia! Christ died for my sins, was buried and rose again on the third day. Alleluia!
Saints Philip and James, please pray for me.

Come Holy Spirit

'We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’ This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.    Acts 5:33

The Apostles are brought before the Jewish high court and are accused of ignoring their orders and continuing to spread the news about Jesus' resurrection.  Peter boldly denies none of this and proceeds to proclaim the Good News to their very faces. He says the Apostles and the Holy Spirit of God are witnesses to the truth of Jesus' resurrection.

Peter has turned from a sand pile into a rock. The crucial ingredient to Peter's transformation is the Holy Spirit. From the moment Peter was anointed by the Holy Spirit in the upper room he become a fearless proclaimer of Jesus as the risen Messiah.

This is a good reminder for me to invite the Holy Spirit further into my life. Starting now...

Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me. Fill me with your power, satisfy my need. Only you can make me whole, give me strength and make me grow. Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me.
Saint Peter, please pray for me.