Sr Shirley Martin of the Delegation of G.B.I.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
“Under the guidance of the Spirit, our personal relationship with Christ leads us to mission.” RL 50
Pentecost 2021
“You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
After the Ascension the troubled disciples returned to the upper room and ‘With one heart all these were constantly persevering in prayer, together with the women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus.’ After the wedding at Cana where Mary tells the servants ‘Do whatever He tells you’ she remains a silent presence in the Gospels particularly at the foot of the Cross and now in the upper room with the disciples as they awaited the coming of the Spirit. Mary pondered on each event and word in her heart and simply remained faithfully present as a woman who listened and as a woman of hope.
Reflect on Mary’s presence in the upper room.
Recall a time when the quiet presence of a friend gave you hope.
On the evening of Easter Jesus appeared to the apostles and breathed on them His Spirit. On the morning of Pentecost tongues of fire rested on each of them as a sign of God’s presence and a rushing wind filled the house and their minds and hearts.
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them the power to express themselves.” (Acts 2:4)
And so began the missionary activity of the apostles to ‘Go and make disciples of all nations.’ The symbols of tongues of fire and wind at Pentecost reminds each of us of the urgency of our call to live out the mission of our baptism and confirmation: to the ends of the earth.
Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit,
to be Christ bearers to the world.
May Mary’s presence be with us on our journey.
You send forth your Spirit…
and you renew the face of the earth.
Psalm 103:30
Today the world needs people who are filled with the Holy Spirit and whose lives proclaim I am a mission on this earth. Just as the apostles went forth after Pentecost, so each of us is called to go forth with courage, faith and perseverance bearing the fruits of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22) whatever our age or state of health. As we recall the day of our own confirmation we can celebrate God’s Spirit in our lives by being witnesses to the Good News in the world in which we live. Together may we use our gifts to be Christ bearers to others, for the Spirit is present in the events of each day. May Mary, who, moved by the Spirit, welcomed the Word of Life in the depths of her being, help us to say our own ‘Yes’ to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.. (Pope Francis EG 288)
Come, Holy Spirit,
we thank you for the rich variety of your gifts.
Help us today to discover and use our gifts,
and to rejoice in the gifts of others.
Come and renew us, O Spirit of God,
bringer of life and hope and love.
Amen
The Spirit that Opens Hearts
In the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-13 we see that the Spirit transformed the hearts of the disciples into women and men who would ‘bear witness to Jesus.’ (Jn 15:27) The Spirit made them go forth from themselves and were not afraid to spread the Good News not only by their words but by their lives. And so it was with Marie Louise Trichet, first Daughter of Wisdom, who ‘aspired to silence and the hidden life, but went to live with the poor at the General Hospital in Poitiers, surrounded by noise and quarrels.’ Led by the Spirit and faithful to Christ’s call she encouraged others throughout her long life to ‘Pray to the Spirit who opens hearts and to listen to His voice, to what He has to say to you in the depths of your heart.’ Marie Louise listened attentively to the Spirit and lived the gifts of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Following her example may our hearts be open to the Spirit, who guides us into the truth, who renews and transforms us so that we may act ‘with Love, out of love’.
The Holy Spirit guides you, renews you and sets you free.
Do you believe this?
Flame-dancing Spirit, Come,
sweep us off our feet and
dance us through our days.
Surprise us with your rhythms,
dare us to try new steps, explore
new dreams and new missions.
Release us from what holds us back,
to open our hearts with joy
and to be sowers of hope.
And in the intervals,
rest us,
in your still centre.
Ann Lewin
Source image : Pixabay
