Daily Reflection – May 15, 2016
Sunday 15 May 2016
First Reading: Acts 2:1-11
Responsorial Psalm:
Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth
Psalm 103(104):1, 24, 29-31, 34
Second Reading: Romans 8:8-17
Gospel Reading: John 14:15-16, 23-26
Today’s Feast: Pentecost Sunday
Gospel Reading:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”
Reflection:
Although on Pentecost we hear only Peter’s preaching, remember that 120, including women, were in that upper room. Suddenly “each of them” are filled with boldness, new language, zeal to speak “about God’s deeds of power.” In John’s gospel we hear Jesus’ promise that the Spirit “will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.” All of Romans 8 deals with God’s love poured into our hearts, the Spirit who cries Abba (or whatever name you use) from deep in our hearts, uniting us constantly to God. “You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,” Paul insists.
What name does arise in your heart when you speak to the Spirit? Ask the Spirit to teach you. Wait. Listen. Ask the Spirit to remind you of what Jesus has said to you, whether through Scripture, through your imagination, through another person. You might want to make notes.
Pray for all those who have subscribed to the “war on terror”. Pray for their peace and ask the Spirit to set them free from fear. The Spirit frees us from being driven, but a bumper sticker proclaims; Driven by faith and not by fear.
You alone can set us free, Holy Spirit. Free us from fear, from rage, from greed, from everything that weakens or destroys the love whom you are.
