The Spirit of truth

"I will send you the Spirit of truth; he will lead you to the whole truth." (John 16: 7, 13)

Thank you Jesus. Open my heart and mind to learn all that I can from the Spirit of truth.

Lydia listened attentively

"Lydia listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying." (Acts 16: 4)

Lydia paid attention to the word.

She listened eagerly.

Lydia responded to what Paul said.

Lydia is a fertile and noble soul on which the seed of the word of God fell and yielded abundant harvest.

Lord Jesus, open our hearts to accept all that you will say to us today.

Easter Effects

"God of mercy, may our celebration of your Son's resurrection help us to experience its effects in our lives….." (Prayer in Mass in the Season of Easter)

What are the effects of Christ's resurrection that we should experience in our lives?

• Peace
  
• Joy
  
• Faith
  
• Holy Spirit
  
• Eucharist
  

How can we witness to these Easter effects without experiencing them?

Dying to something

"Christ now raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has power over him." (Romans 6: 9)

If I die to something in my life, I will never die again to the same thing. I have died to alcohol. I will never die to alcohol again. Alcohol no longer has power over me.

Things I want to die to:

• Money
  
• Fear of ill health
  
• Security
  
• Food
  

 

In need of forgiveness

"Lord, accept our prayers and offerings. Make us worthy of your sacraments of love by granting us your forgiveness…." (Prayer in Mass)

We are continually in need of God's forgiveness.

"Say but a word and I shall be healed."

The Advocate

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains in you, and will be in you." (John 14: 16 – 17)

Thank you Jesus for the Holy Spirit. Yes, I am beginning to know Him. And what I am learning about Him is very exciting.

Reasons for Hope

"Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence." (1 Peter 3: 15-16)

What are the reasons for my hope on the Enterprise?

• God is faithful.
  
• He has been consistently faithful through the journey so far.
  
• He started the Enterprise and has sustained it so far.
  
• God will bring to conclusion whatever He started.
  
• He gives me a pledge in the Eucharist.
  
• He gives me peace and faith.

Sanctify Christ

"Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts." (1 Peter 3: 15)

Enthrone Christ as King and Lord of your heart.

Make Christ your most cherished desire.

Give Christ the first place in your heart.

Seek Christ's kingdom and righteousness above everything else.

The Ultimate Joy

"God our Father, maker of all, the crown of your creation was the Son of Man, born of a woman, but without beginning; he suffered for us but lives forever. May our mortal lives be crowned with the ultimate joy of rising with him…." (Prayer in Mass in the Season of Easter)

Christ suffered and died for us but now lives forever more. If we suffer now with Christ, we too will live forever.

The Joy of the Resurrection

"Ever-living God, help us to celebrate our joy in the resurrection of the Lord and to express in our lives the love we celebrate……" (Prayer at Mass in Easter season)

What does the Resurrection of Jesus mean to me? Do I feel the joy of Easter? What are the fruits of the Resurrection?

The Resurrection means victory, triumph over the forces of evil.

The world loves its own

"If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice of you has drawn you out of the world, that is why the world hates you." (John 15: 19)

The world recognizes its own and loves them.

Since those chosen by Christ and withdrawn from the world by His choice are not recognized by the world, all they can expect from the world are challenges, resistance and hatred.

The Spirit and Mission

"They traveled through Phrygia and the Galatian country, because they had been told by the Holy Spirit not to preach the word in Asia." (Acts 16: 6)

The Spirit and Mission

If we surrender our lives completely to the Spirit as Paul did, He would guide our work as He guided Paul's. He will reveal to us in due time:

• The what?
  
• The where?
  
• The When?
  
• The How?
  

Of our vocation.

Most Holy Spirit, help us to surrender completely to you.

Unceasing Care

"Loving Father, through our rebirth in Baptism you give us your life and promise immortality. By your unceasing care, guide our steps toward the life of glory…." (Mass Prayer)

Baptism gives us new life in God. All the sacraments increase this life or sanctifying grace in us. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation this life is renewed and refreshed.

God's care for us is unceasing. His perfect love for us casts out fear. Fear is useless; what is needed is trust.

Spiritual Sacrifice

"Merciful Lord, make holy these gifts and let our spiritual sacrifice make us an everlasting gift to you…." (Prayer at Mass)

We bring our gifts of bread and wine, representing our toils and all that we desire to offer to God. God accepts them and makes them holy.

Bearing fruit

"You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name." (John 15: 16)

Christ chose me. He commissions me to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.

When I start bearing spiritual fruit in the Vineyard, whatever I ask the Father in the name of Jesus, I shall have.

Principles of fruit-bearing in the Kingdom:

• Dwell in my words.
  
• Remain in me and allow me to remain in you.
  

When you have done these, have faith that the seed is growing and will yield fruit in due season.

Process of fruit-bearing in the Kingdom:

• Faith
  
• Patience of a farmer
  
• Continual watering of the plant

My Friends

"You are my friends, if you do what I command you." (John 15: 14)

I want to be a friend and companion of Jesus. But there are conditions for this friendship and companionship. They are:

"keep my commands"

• Love God with all your heart.
  
• Love your neighbor as yourself
  

Lord Jesus, I cherish your friendship and want to keep your commandments. Help me to do so, Jesus.

Committed to Jesus

"And so we have decided unanimously to elect delegates and to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have committed their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 15: 25)

Paul and Barnabas committed their lives to Jesus. Lord Jesus, help me to commit my life to you as Paul and Barnabas did.

Eternal Life and the Eucharist

"Lord, by this Easter mysteries, prepare us for eternal life. May our celebration of Christ's death and resurrection guide us to salvation….." (Mass Prayer)

The Eucharist is the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection. Nothing prepares us better for eternal life than the Eucharist.

O Mother of the Son, obtain for me the favor of witnessing to the power of the Eucharist.

Fear is useless

"Fear is useless; what is needed is trust."

Jesus, Luke 8:50, Mark 5:36

The Purpose

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Ten years ago, I confided to my journal the reflection below. Ten years after, I am amazed as to how things things have turned out. I now have a teaching ministry in my parish. Ten years ago, I saw it as a tiny speck in the future horizon. God is faithful.

God knows the best for me. He has seen the whole pattern of the weaving of my life. He has seen the finished product. He will make a strategic match between my:

• Purpose
  
• Personality
  
• Position (environment)
  

1. What is my purpose? To learn and to communicate.

Sources of learning:

• Mass
  
• Prayer
  
• WOG
  
• Promised Land Scriptures
  
• Christian Radio
  
• TBN
  
• Teaching
  

2. Personality: Jesus Christ describes Himself as the Truth, the Way and the Life. Who am I? A friend and companion of Jesus.

3. Position: Tx-06, STM, SFJ

I trust God to arrange the very best for me.