Feast of Pentecost: Gospel On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their...
In the Second Eucharistic Prayer at Mass, the priest prays: "We humbly ask you (Father) to make them holy by the power of your Spirit, that they may become the Body and Blood...
"In the same way the Holy Spirit, whose nature is always the same, simple and indivisible, apportions grace to each man as he wills. Like a dry tree which puts forth shoots when...
Jesus refers to the Spirit as the fountain from which living water flows. On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me...
Jesus calls the promised Holy Spirit, our Advocate, who will stand by our side defending us, as he is the Spirit of truth. In another context Jesus said that we don't have to...
Homily Solemnity of the Ascension Reading 1: The author, Luke, begins by referring to his first book, which we know as the Gospel of Luke. The focus of the Gospel was all...
Have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire? This is what John the Baptist preached: "I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is...
Reflection on Scripture Feast of the Ascension Gospel C The promise of the Spirit
By spiritaflame 11:40 AMFeast of the Ascension Gospel CJesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the...
One of the symbols of the Holy Spirit used in the Scriptures and by artists is that of a dove. Noah sent a dove out to determine if it was safe to exit...
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRITMay 26-June 4First Day Holy Spirit, Lord of light, from your clear celestial height, your pure beaming radiance give. Come, Holy Spirit, come.Let us prayO God who has taught...
As we prepare to celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, our focus is on the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, whom we received when we were baptized and again when we were confirmed....
Jesus said: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you....I have called you friends, because...
Jesus said: "I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete." (Jn 15:11)What is this joy of the Lord? It is not a...
Homily Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C Reading 1: As the Word of God through the ministry of Paul and Barnabas spread among the Gentiles who are baptized, some of the Judaizers...
"Remain in me as I remain in you." These words of Jesus are comforting to us. How do we remain in him and he in us? Through the sharing in his divine life,...
Sixth Sunday of Easter Gospel CJesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling...
Jesus told the apostles and us: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you." (Jn 14:27) What is this...
In one sense, Jesus makes it easy for us to experience his presence. He said: "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to...
From Ash Wednesday to the Tridium, our focus is on the death and resurrection of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. We culminate our Lenten journey on Easter Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus' impact...
Each day of our lives God has divine appointments for us to keep. Many of us are so busy with our own agenda that we miss those grace moments. They are not interruptions...
Homily; Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C Jesus glorifies the Father and the Father him.
By spiritaflame 11:17 AMHomily: Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C Reading 1: Paul and Barnabas were signaled out by the Holy Spirit to go to the Gentile world to preach the good news of salvation...
When we want to ask God for something, it is on our timing. But when we want to hear from the Lord, it is on his timing. Many times it is hard to...
Reflection on Scripture Fifth Sunday of Easter Gospel C Jesus glorifies the Father
By spiritaflame 10:57 AMFifth Sunday of Easter Gospel CWhen Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also...
St. John Eudes once said: "I am the glory of God." Can I relate with that and proclaim the same truth? This reflects a similar statement by St. Ireneaus: "The glory of God is man fully alive, but the life of man is the vision of God." Jesus said: "I came that they may have life, life to the fullest." Ponder on the truth these sayings are proclaiming. God created us in his own image and likeness. Jesus redeemed us so that we can reflect the glory of God as we share his divine life. The more we are growing in relationship with God, the more his life becomes our life, then his glory is manifested in and through us. We are the glory of God by his grace and love. We grow in his life and become more fully alive by his grace and love. But when we cooperate and embrace the gift of his life, living in it in love, then the glory of God becomes a visible reality to others. Repeating often "I am the glory of God." may enable the truth to be embraced and lived.
Jesus said: "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Mt. 16:25) Life is a paradox. It is a mystery...
"Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and ask him more directly to give you joy, peace, and a pure heart. Purity of heart means a heart where God is the center of your...
During Pilate's interrogation of Jesus, Jesus made this revealing statement: "I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate's response was:...
Homily: Fourth Sunday of Easter Year C Reading 1: “They were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” Why? They just got themselves thrown out of town. They have experienced persecution and...
Have you ever felt a deep loneliness? If you have, did you ask the Lord what was this loneliness within you? Sometimes we try to fill this feeling with temporary fixes. But the...
Reflection on Scripture Fourth Sunday of Easter Gospel C Following the Shepherd
By spiritaflame 11:01 AMFourth Sunday of Easter Gospel CJesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.· Sheep become accustom to the voice of the shepherd and respond to his call....
As we look at the situations of the world around us, we may sometimes wonder does God really care. How can there be so much destruction, disregard for human life, so much injustice,...
“The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). What does this mean? Listen to a reflection from Pope Francis: “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter...
