Plan B

I still have many things to say to you...but when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth.
Jn.16:12,13

Jesus knows he's running out of time. The cohort is already forming that will lead him to his passion and death on the cross. He has a plan B that will become plan A after his ascension. That plan is the Holy Spirit.

The "many things" Jesus wanted say have been entrusted to the Holy Spirit who in turn has entrusted them to Sacred Scripture, Mother Church's teachings and traditions and, dare I say, to me. When these all line up in agreement, we have a glimpse into the "many things". 

Pentecost is coming. Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh... 

Become a Believer

Become a believer in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your household too.
Acts16:31

High drama as an earthquake miraculously frees Paul and Silas from gaol. The gaoler is rescued from suicide and led to life as a believer, along with his household.

From death to life through Jesus. What a great story showing the dramatic change to life allowing Jesus in can have. My conversion was not so rapid but a Copernican revolution nonetheless, a 180 degree about turn to a fullness of life I had never previously experienced.

It's good to remember my conversion story. I walk into today with gratitude in my heart and a desire to call others into the fullness of life only found in Jesus.

Saints Paul and Silas, please pray for me.

A Friend of God

I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
Jn.15:15

Knowing his death was imminent, Jesus ups the stakes he has with his disciples. They are no longer servants, they are friends.

There are no secrets with Jesus. He has told everything to us, his friends. Scripture, the teachings and traditions of Mother Church contain it all. Friendship with God has been given to me. What an outrageous claim that can be made in no other religion. 

I step into today and whatever it contains with this assurance. Beside me walks my friend, who is God.

Lord Jesus, I accept your offer of friendship. Holy Spirit, help me live as God's friend today.
Saint Peter, please pray for me.

Complete Joy

I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.
Jn.15:11

Jesus gives his great final discourse immediately before being arrested. His final gift to all believers is complete joy.

What is the "this" he has told? To remain in his love. His love has been given through the sacraments, starting with baptism, has been given in his Word, and has been given in his Church of fellow believers. Jesus' inference is that I can move away from his love. Indeed, I drift away from his love each time I sin. 

So, today I have the task of remaining in God's love and receiving complete joy. 

Thank you Jesus for your sublime and divine gift of complete joy.  
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Connected

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Jn.15:5

Jesus uses a powerful analogy of vine and branches to emphasise the relationship I am to have with him. Connected I bear much fruit. Disconnected I am dead wood.

This reminds me of Steve Green's classic song 'He'll take Care of the Rest' where there's a great verse... 

Remember he is de vine, and you are de branch,
He loves to get you through it if you give Him a chance
Just keep doing your best and pray that it's blessed
Jesus takes care of the rest.

Sometimes I judge I'm not bearing much fruit. This is a great reminder to "keep doing my best and pray that it's blessed" and let Jesus take care of the rest.

Saint Peter, please pray for me.

Filled with the Holy Spirit

For he (Barnabas) was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord.
Acts.11:24

Barnabas was entrusted by the Apostles to go and assess what was happening in Antioch. The Holy Spirit residing in him affirmed that the preaching to Greeks was producing good fruit.  

The Church is starting to grow and its growth was not from Jewish converts but from the pagans. This was unexpected and unsettling. Yet, on investigation it was seen as a genuine work of the Holy Spirit. 

It took good, Jewish men such as Barnabas, filled with the Holy Spirit, to let the early Church move in a new and fruitful direction. The Church eventually became a church not of the Jews but of the gentiles. 

It seems a prerequisite to being in the center of a move of the Holy Spirit is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me.
Saint Barnabas, please pray for me.

Carried

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.
Jn.10:11

Jesus addresses Pharisees who are enraged by Jesus healing a blind man on the Sabbath. He highlights the difference between their shepherding and his. He is prepared to lay down his very life.

I associate with the sheep carried across Jesus' shoulders. I'm weak. I stray. I get lost. I follow my own path. I need such a shepherd.

Thank you Lord that you carry me home again and again. You are my good shepherd. I am your sheep.