Holy Spirit – The Transformer

"I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord." (Ezekiel 37: 12 – 14)

The above scripture answers the question: How to embrace the world given to me without comprising myself? God promised to give me His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in me will anoint me for the work of my life and teach me how to embrace the world without any compromise.

Christ embraced the world without compromise. He ate with sinners. He embraced Mary Magdalene. He drank wine with sinners. When we surrender completely to the Holy Spirit, He will transform us to love like Christ.

Transform us

"Father in heaven, the love of your Son led him to accept the suffering of the cross that his brothers might glory in new life. Change our selfishness into self-giving. Help us to embrace the world you have given us, that we may transform the darkness of its pain into the life and joy of Easter …." (Mass Prayer in Lent)

If we love Jesus and the salvation of our brothers and sisters, then we will share gladly in the cross of Christ so that our brethren may find new life.

Guide us Lord by the example of Christ. Change our selfishness into self-giving. May the discipline of Lent of prayer, fasting and almsgiving affect in us this attitude permanently.

Another Christ

"Father, help us to be like Christ your Son, who loved the world and died for our salvation. Inspire us by his love, guide us by his example…"

Help us to be like Christ. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ. Help us to be another Christ. Teach us to love the world that Christ loved and to be ready to die for its salvation if necessary.

May Christ's love for man inspire us in our thoughts, words and deeds.

Guide us by Christ's examples: faith, patience, wisdom, humility and courage.

God is my refuge

"Give me justice, O God, and defend my cause against the wicked; rescue me from deceitful and unjust men. You, O God, are my refuge." (Psalm 43: 1-2)

God is my refuge.

When deceitful, unjust and wicked men confront me, God is my refuge and my strength. He is the guardian of my rights.

With God, justice delayed is not justice denied. In UEF86, God is my refuge and my strength. In CNUA94, he stood by my side.

Do this/ Observe all

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 19 – 20)

"Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22: 19)

At the Last Supper, Jesus instructed the disciples to observe the Sacred Meal in remembrance of Him. Before ascending into heaven, He gave the great commission to His disciples and asked them to observe everything He taught them. It was not enough to believe what He taught them but they must observe and do as well.

Reading leads to forgetfulness. Practice leads to remembrance. The disciples were to teach their new converts to practice the faith. Practice leads to tradition.

"I glorify you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do." (John 17: 4)

The Power of the Eucharist 2

"Lord, may the power of your holy gifts free us from sin and help us to please you in our daily lives….." (Prayer at Mass)

The Eucharist is powerful enough to free us from sins. In fact, our venial sins are forgiven during the Eucharist. The Eucharist also helps us to please God in our daily lives.

Correct Answer

"So the people could not agree about him." (John 7: 43)

"Who do men say that I am?" This is the question that divides Christianity. Different denominations and different answers to this question. Since correct thought is the key to correct action, the answer to this question directly impacts on our understanding of the teaching of Christ.

"Who do you say that I am?"

"Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." (Luke 10: 16)

 

Lion’s Prey

"Lord, my God, I take shelter in you…. Save me from my pursuers and rescue me, lest I become like the lion's prey, to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me." (Psalm 7: 2-3)

Unless I take shelter all the time in the Lord, I will become exposed and a prey to the hungry lion, to be torn to pieces. There will be none to rescue me.

I will make the Lord my refuge and my shield.

Trustful Lamb

"I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughterhouse, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, 'Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may no longer be remembered." (Jeremiah 11: 19-20)

Christ is the Lamb of God. He was the tree his enemies plotted to destroy in His vigor. They planned a total solution to the Jesus problem. God allowed their wicked schemes to succeed for a time.

Spiritual Warfare

"Yahweh informed me and I knew it; you then revealed their scheming to me." (Jeremiah 11: 18)

Has God ever revealed to you the source and the meaning of the persecution you are experiencing? This is what happened to Jeremiah here. It is has also happened to me. This revelation comes with great strength and patience to endure whatever you are facing. You simply know that God is in control and you are in good hands.

Gentle Mercy

"Lord, guide us in your gentle mercy, for left to ourselves we cannot do your will …." (Opening Mass Prayer)

Lead me, guide me in your gentle mercy. Without you, I can do nothing.

The snares of death

"The snares of death overtook me, the ropes of hell tightened around me; in my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice." (Psalm 18: 5-7)

The snares of death – sin

The ropes of hell – sin

Call upon the Lord in your distress and He will answer you.

Unselfish love

"Father, with unselfish love St. Joseph cared for your son, born of the Virgin Mary. May we also serve you at the altar with pure hearts …." (Prayer on the feast of St. Joseph – March 19)

St. Joseph cared for the holy family with unselfish love. St. Joseph, pray for me that I may serve God with a pure heart.

Joseph

"When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home." (Matthew 1:24)

Joseph was an upright man. He was obedient to God's will.

I believe

"For the promise to Abraham and his descendants that he should inherit the world was not through the Law, but through the uprightness of faith." (Romans 4: 13)

The promises of God are made independent of the work that is required to keep the Law. We appropriate God's promises through our faith. We know that God has the integrity and power to fulfill His promises. We believe He will keep His word. By making the promises, God is treating us as sons and daughters. By believing, we are acting as sons and daughters.

Abraham believed in God's promises. We believe in the promise of salvation through Jesus. I believe in God's promises on the Enterprise. Because I believe, God is blessing me and treating me as a son.

Son of David

"And when your days are over and you fall asleep with your ancestors, I shall appoint your heir, your own son to succeed you…… Your dynasty and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be forever secure." (2 Samuel 7: 12, 16)

Jesus Christ is the Son of David, the promised Messiah.

The Faithful Servant

"The Lord has put his faithful servant in charge of his house-hold." (Luke 12: 42)

Joseph, the husband of Mary is the model of the faithful servant. The Lord put him in charge of His holy family.

Cleansing Power of the Sacraments

"Lord, may the sacraments we receive cleanse us of sin and free us from guilt, for our sins bring us sorrow, but your promise of salvation bring us joy…"

The sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance cleanse us of sins and free us from guilt.

Our sins bring us sorrow. How true! God's promise of salvation brings us joy.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

"I will put my law within them, I will write it on their hearts; then I shall be their God, and they will be my people." (Jeremiah 31: 33)

It is the Holy Spirit within us that makes us to be God's people. He enables the divine filiation. Without His presence, we are unable to walk in God's ways.

"All you need is the Holy Spirit." - 0595

A Shining Lamp

"John was a lamp lit and shining and for a time you were content to enjoy the light that he gave." (John 5: 35)

Lord Jesus, make me a lamp in your Church. Light me that I may shine for you. Sow your word in my heart. Grant me the grace to expose your word with simplicity and courage.

Today is the feast of St. Anslem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. This is a man who shone for Christ.