"The Lord has been my strength; he has led me into freedom. He saved me because he loves me." (Psalm 18: 19-20)
The Lord has been my strength all the days of my life. He delivered me from the shackles of the enemy and led me into freedom. He saved me because He loved me. He is still saving me today because he loves me.
"Father, may the food we receive in the Eucharist help our eternal redemption. Keep within us the vigor of your Spirit and protect the gifts you have given your Church….." (Communion Prayer on the Feast of Pentecost)
One important fruits of the Eucharist which I love is that it keeps within us the vigor of the Holy Spirit. That is to say, as we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we are refilled with the Holy Spirit.
We ask the Father in the above Communion prayer to protect the gifts He has lavished on the Church. Some of these gifts are:
"They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke of great things God had done." (Acts 2: 4, 11)
Perhaps the easiest way to evangelize is to speak of the great things God has done for you. Testimonies rarely fail. When I hear one, I say aloud or to myself: " I love testimonies." Testimonies build up your faith.
O Holy Spirit, remind me the great things you have done for me and let me know when to use them to promote the Kingdom of God.
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." (John 20: 21)
Lord thank you for your gift of peace. I need it very much today. I want your peace. I do not want to worry for anything.
Lord if you send me, I will go.
Left: The Blessed Sacrament Chapel at St. Thomas More Church in Houston, Texas.
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is the home of peace. It is not possible to come into the presence of Christ and seriously ask Him for peace and leave His presence without the gift. Impossible!
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." (John 20: 21)
Lord thank you for your gift of peace. I need it very much today. I want your peace. I do not want to worry for anything.
Lord if you send me, I will go.
"To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit." (1 Corinthians 12: 7)
How does the Holy Spirit manifest in my life for the benefit of the Church? What are my gifts?
I learn and I teach
Faith
Obedience
Prayer
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim." (Acts 2: 4)
The Spirit enabled them to exercise their different gifts. May the Holy Spirit also empower me to exercise my own gift. I trust He will in the fullness of time. I walk by faith and not by sight.
"Father of light, from whom every good gift comes, send your Spirit into our lives with the power of a mighty wind, and by the flame of your wisdom open the horizons of our minds. Loosen our tongues to sing your praise in words beyond the power of speech, for without your Spirit man could never raise his voice in words of peace or announce the truth that Jesus is Lord…." (Prayer on Pentecost Sunday)
Every good gift comes from God.
Open the horizons of our minds by the flame of your wisdom.
Loosen our tongues to speak your praise.
Without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing.