The Gospel According to John 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason, I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”
Opening Prayer: Grant, we pray, O Lord, that, as we celebrate in mystery the solemnities of your Son’s Resurrection, so, too, we may be worthy to rejoice at his coming with all the Saints. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Encountering Christ:
Yesterday in the Gospel, Jesus was saying farewell to his disciples and today he gave them these comforting words. He introduced his disciples (and us) to the great mystery of the Trinity. Three in one, one in three, what an unfathomable truth! In his great gentleness, Jesus fed us slowly in these verses. We have so much to learn about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let us keep our hearts open to this pure love and seek to learn more.
I would like to share with you a story that shows what openness to God’s presence can produce in us: Years ago, the Special Olympics was in Seattle,there were 9 children with various mental or physical deficiencies set to run the 100 yd. dash. The gun went off and they all took off with joy on their faces. One child, however, fell as he started, and began to cry. The other 8 stopped at hearing the sobs, and looking back, they then returned to where he was.One girl with Downs Syndrome bent down and gave him a kiss and said, “This will heal your hurt.” Then all 9 linked each other’s arms and finished the race… together.
The entire stadium stood up, applauded and screamed for 10 min.(Adapted from: “What is Really Important, 3rd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, pg. 70)
This reminded me of one of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius: its called ‘Contemplation to attain love.’ We were asked to imagine the heavenly court and God in a filled stadium applauding and cheering, and as we cross over, from life to death and to life again. We can visualize having finished the race that Jesus prepared His disciples to run. God wants to give us wisdom and vision, so that we in return, can give it tothose who need us to help them finish their race arm in arm.
The Holy Spirit wants to guide us in truth. It can be difficult to listen in the noisy world in which we live. Devoted time to prayer can help us be less anxious about the things that are to come. With open hearts, let us listen and rely on the truths that the Holy Spirit, that sweet guest of our souls, is whispering to us and wanting us to share with the world, which so desperately needs truth.
Jesus is never outdone in generosity! Jesus gave us everything that the Father gave to him—everything: our life, our baptism, the Eucharist, our families. How often do we sit and ponder with Our Lord the greatness of his gifts? How can we show our appreciation? How do we receive such great gifts? Love, love, love!
Closing Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of us your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love, send forth your spirit and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray, O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, instructs the hearts of the faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit we may truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make a visit to Our Lord in the Eucharist, pondering and giving thanks for The Holy Trinity. Let us also continue our Daily Rosary’s through out Mother Mary’s month of May.
DEACON5 