Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Acts 25:13-21

　

"Do not forget all the gifts of God." (Psalm 103:2)

Since Easter Monday, the Mass readings have been following the story of the early church as it unfolds in the Acts of the Apostles. We have gone from Pentecost to Paul’s imprisonment. We have seen Peter’s role in his mission to the Gentiles. We have followed the initial growth of the church in Jerusalem and watched it extend to the known world. It is a dramatic, inspiring story—and it doesn’t end with Paul!

This great extended Book of Acts includes chapters on the Franciscans, the Jesuits, and the Dominicans. It includes the tales of brave missionaries and the stories of church councils. And the book is still being written today, with each of our lives making up another chapter! None of us should think that we are unimportant in the kingdom. Or should we think that our lives don’t matter or that we’ll never make an impact. We have all been called by our heavenly Father to build his kingdom.  He is counting on us to take up this calling with faith, trust, and determination. Who knows how our own chapter will read? Who knows what plans the Lord still has in store for us?

One thing is certain - we are all temples of the Holy Spirit and each of us can accomplish great things in the name of Christ. There are many more chapters left to be written—and we are the main characters!

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Three days short of Pentecost Sunday, today, June 9th, we celebrate the memory of St. Ephrem.

Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.

~ Saint Ephrem

Saint Ephrem was born of a Christian family in Nisibis around the year 306.  Ordained a deacon of Edessa in what is now Turkey, he vigorously combated the heresies of his time by writing poems and hymns about the Mysteries of Christ and the Blessed Virgin. He had a great devotion to Our Lady, and was in large part responsible for introducing hymns to public worship. He exercised his office as deacon throughout the country and in Edessa, where he founded a theological school.  Despite his ascetic life he did not relax his ministries of preaching and writing books to confute the errors of the time.

Ephrem (or Eprhaim) the Syrian left us hundreds of hymns and poems on the faith that inflamed and inspired the whole Church, but we know few facts about his own inspiring life.

We do not know the exact date or year of his death but June 9, 373 is accepted by many. Ephrem related in his dying testament a childhood vision of his life that he gloriously fulfilled.

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Acts 20:28-38

“We must help the weak.” (Acts 20:35)

As we continue to wind down to the end of the Easter Season, today’s reading gives us a final farewell from St. Paul. He had not only founded the church at Ephesus but lived among the believers for three years. During that time, “God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.” As a result, “the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily.” (Acts 19:11,20)

Every community, every congregation, even every family has its own “weak” members. Through whatever combination of genetics, upbringing or unfortunate circumstances, it is unlikely that they will ever be able to take care of themselves adequately. These are the ones Paul singled out for special attention. He knew the fundamental precept that those who are more graced should care for those who are in need—not take advantage of them or ignore them.

Such a philosophy goes against our human nature. Those who move quickly find it irritating to slow down for those who lag behind. It can be hard for someone with a quick mind to have to explain things to someone who just doesn’t get it. Instead of putting ourselves in their shoes, we tend to imagine them in ours. When we do this, we exercise the judgment that belongs to God and we fail to extend the mercy that belongs to the strong and weak alike. The elders were not crying in admiration of Paul’s accomplishments but were crying tears of affection for a brother. And Paul, in turn, was concerned for the survival of “the whole flock …” and especially “the weak.” (Acts 20:28,35)

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Acts 20:17-27

“But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem.” (Acts 20:22)

Every Sunday at Mass we affirm our belief in the Holy Spirit when we pray the Creed: “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.” Such powerful words—and so often spoken quickly and without much reflection. What would it be like if we were all aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit and his promptings in our daily lives?
 In Scripture, we see the Holy Spirit affecting the lives and decisions of so many people—even Jesus himself! Paul was compelled by the conviction of the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. Mary was compelled to say “yes” to the angel and become the Mother of God. Peter was compelled to visit Cornelius’ house and baptize the first Gentiles into the church. Even Jesus was compelled by the Spirit to go into the desert to fast and pray.

The Holy Spirit wants to play an active role in our lives, just as he did in the lives of these early believers. He wants to counsel us and give us just the right words to say to someone who is hurting. He wants to console us when we are feeling unworthy or hopeless. He wants to help us see our sin, and then lead us into the freedom of his mercy. He wants to convince us of God’s passionate love for us so that we can walk through our days with our heads held high.

So how can we hear the Spirit? The obvious answers include prayer, fasting, and Scripture. But we should also be looking for those times when a new, unexpected sense arises in our hearts: spontaneous thoughts of love or mercy, or maybe a new insight into a Scripture passage or a possible new direction in our lives. Follow these senses. Test them out, and see if they bring you joy, hope, or peace. If so, you can be sure that the Holy Spirit is behind them. The more you practice, the clearer the Spirit’s voice will become.

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Acts of the Apostles (19:6)

"When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them."

We are only days away now from Pentecost. It is time to shift our focus and pay attention to the words of Scripture in Acts while keeping an eye on the way the Holy Spirit worked powerfully in the apostles in all they said and did.

In today’s reading, when Paul encountered believers in Ephesus who had no knowledge or experience of the Holy Spirit, he laid his hands on them—and the Spirit came, filling them with new life and moving them to pray in tongues. He used this simple, outward gesture as a sign of friendship and solidarity with them. Through his touch, the people were brought into contact with an ambassador of Christ, and it opened the door for greater blessings.

Paul gives us a model that we can follow. Praying for someone is a good thing. Praying with a person is even better. It tells that person that we are united in seeking the Lord’s help. But even more, we believe that whenever we pray in this way, we are giving the Holy Spirit a greater opening to act, sometimes in dramatic ways. We may even see miracles!

The Seventh Sunday of Easter

John 17:1-11a

"I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.  Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began."



There is one week until Pentecost Sunday and it is after the Ascension. The remaining apostles "have kept the Father’s word;" "they have believed that the Father sent Jesus." They witness to God’s glory by enacting their own sort of "triumphal" entry into Jerusalem redolent of Christ’s on Palm Sunday. It was triumphant "when they entered the city" because the Eleven were deeply united in faith and charity, resolved to do the will of the Father. It is not a coincidence the way that their actions mimic those of Jesus; they go to the upper room and there devote themselves to prayer with one accord. As a result of this conviction, persecution is soon to follow, but they will rejoice to the extent that they share in the sufferings of Christ.

This is true of us even today. It is only through suffering that we will have glory. And it is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we have the promise of eternal life and ultimately glory.

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

"Ask and you will receive." (John 16:24)

At the Last Supper, Jesus promised his disciples that he would give them the Holy Spirit. But how would they—and how would we—know the love and help that the Spirit has come to give? Jesus’ answer is simple: Ask!

So what will we receive if we ask for the Spirit?

First, and most important, we will receive revelation. One of the Spirit’s most vital gifts is that he shows us Jesus in a new and more glorious light. We see him not only as a man who died on the cross centuries ago but as our own Lord and Savior. Through the Spirit’s power, we see Jesus as a living person, the Son of God whose love for us is constant, perfect, and intimate. And not only do we see Jesus; we experience his presence in a powerful way. We feel his joy, his mercy, and his freedom in our hearts.

Along with this gift of revelation, the Spirit gives us a peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27). He helps us stay rooted in Jesus and his love for us, so that we can weather the storms of life. By constantly reminding us that we are treasured children of God, the Spirit helps calm our fears and anxieties. He brings us to a place of rest and trust. And he convinces us that we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

St. Paul tells us that the Spirit also prays with us and for us "according to God’s will" (Romans 8:27). Even as we are asking, so is the Spirit. Only he is asking for the things that we don’t even know we need. He is asking for the yearnings in our hearts that we don’t dare speak. In other words, we don’t have to worry about a thing. All we have to do is keep seeking the Spirit and trying our best to submit to him. Then the Spirit, who searches our hearts, will give us every good and perfect gift we could ever need.