Readings:
1 John 2:3-11
Psalm 96:1-3, 5-6
Luke 2:22-35
Most of us do not realise that we need the Holy Spirit until we come to the crossroads of our lives where we must make important choices like, our career or vocation, who to befriend or marry and how to find happiness. The different aspects of our lives are governed by God’s presence in us, which we call the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity (the Love between the Father and the Son). The Hebrew reference for the Holy Spirit is a word which translates to “wind” or “breath”. It is what God breathed into man’s nostrils at creation to make him a living soul (Genesis 2:7).
The Holy Spirit is the invisible, powerful and life-giving presence. Without the Holy Spirit in us, we are dead: “You take back your breath, they die” (Psalms 104:29).
God’s Spirit empowered Joseph to understand and interpret dreams (Genesis 41:15ff). He gave Bezalel the power of craftsmanship. He was the chief artisan of the Tabernacle and was in charge of building the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 31:1-6; chapters 36 to 39).
God’s Spirit enables the prophets to see what God is doing all through history and call God’s people to be faithful to Him.
God’s Spirit stirred Simeon who was an “upright and devout man”. “The Holy Spirit rested on Him” and he was “prompted by the Holy Spirit” to enter the temple the day Jesus was presented by his parents. He rejoiced to see Jesus, the “salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of God’s people.”
God’s Spirit created a good world, but humanity’s sins and injustice have unleashed chaos into it.
God’s Spirit will come to transform our hearts and empower us to truly love God and our neighbour: “We can be sure that we know God only by keeping his commandments” (1 John 2:3).
Jesus enacted this new world when He received baptism and the Holy Spirit came and rested on Him and showed Him forth as the one who will begin God’s new creation.
Why do we need the Holy Spirit?
Acts 10:38 – God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We need the Holy Spirit to do good, to heal and deliver those oppressed by the Devil.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit to you are:
Wisdom—to detach us from the world, makes us relish and love only the things of heaven.
Understanding—to help us to grasp and apply the truths of the Catholic faith to our lives.
Counsel—to enable you to see and choose correctly what will help you attain salvation.
Fortitude—courage to overcome the obstacles and difficulties that arise in the practice of our faith.
Knowledge—points out to us the path to follow and the dangers to avoid to reach heaven.
Piety—tender and filial confidence in God, makes us joyfully embrace all that pertains to His service.
Fear—fills us with a sovereign respect for God and makes us dread offending Him.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud: Father, thank you for Jesus Christ. Forgive my sins, take control of my heart and lead me in your righteous path by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord. Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident pastor or priest.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, my One True Lover, Saviour and Friend. Thank you for coming down from heaven, taking on my humanity and dying for my sins. May I always find in you my one true lover and friend? Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit and fill my heart, guide my mind, shield me from temptation and evil and make my life pleasing to You. Amen.
May Christ’s coming renew in your heart the desire for God and every good gift. May the Holy Spirit working through you lead you to true and lasting happiness and peace through Christ our Lord.
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