6th Week of Easter 2018 - Monday - Called to Testify

In many of the stories of the saints, the holy ones are brought before judges, governors, kings, even emperors, to give testimony for their Christians faith.

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus taught how on His account, his disciples would be “brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.”

I think of the Apostles being brought before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, or the first martyrs of Rome, saints like Felicity and Perpetua and Agatha, I think of that wonderful scene from the Man for All Seasons, of St. Thomas More standing before the English tribunal or the Ugandan St. Charles Lwanga and his companions refusing the perverted desires of the Ugandan King.

 Where are we to get such courage, such eloquence of word and deed?

As we near the end of the Easter season and the Great Feast of Pentecost, our readings speak of the Advocate, the Paraclete, who comes to the aid of Christians in testifying to Jesus.

In the Greco-Roman courtroom, your paraclete or advocate was the one who stood at your side and gave you help and assistance as your court case was tried.  Your advocate gave you counsel, pleaded your case, and interceded on their behalf, to teach them what they most know, to give them the words the must speak, when called upon to testify.

I think this is why some Christians back-off from or are hesitant to form a vibrant relationship with the Holy Spirit. We sense the Holy Spirit wants to impel us out of our comfort zones to witness to Christ. And that’s terrifying. So we “fall-away” from forming that deep powerful relationship with the Advocate.

But, Christians are to be witnesses to Jesus Christ in the courtroom of this world. Many will form their judgments about the truth of Christianity based on our testimony. And if they find us cowering in fear of witnessing to our faith, why should they convert? If we don't show conviction for Christ, why should they?

May we grow in our trust in the aid of the Holy Spirit, who helps us to be faithful to our vocation to boldly witness to Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all bishops, priests, catechists, and parents may be faithful in preaching and teaching the saving Gospel of Christ.

For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit among all Christians, and for all who are persecuted for the faith.

For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.

For the deceased members of our families, friends and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who fought and died for our freedom.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

Tuesday - 6th Week of Easter 2017 - Spirit of Truth, Pillar of Fire

Throughout the New Testament the third person of the Holy Trinity is revealed by many different names and titles.

He is of course called the Holy Spirit. We read in the Acts of the Apostles how those gathered in the Upper Room were “filled with the Holy Spirit”.

He is called Comforter, Counselor, Advocate. All three titles are translations of the same Greek word, Parakletos from which we get the word “Paraclete” That title is found in today’s Gospel.
St. Paul in Romans calls him “Spirit of Life”; the Holy Spirit imparts the life that Jesus died to win for us.

This Sunday and in today’s Gospel, he is called the “Spirit of Truth.” Jesus promised that, after the resurrection, the Holy Spirit would come to “guide you into all truth.”

Many times in the Gospels, the apostles seem confused about the words of Jesus, they don’t seem to comprehend his words. But after Pentecost, after they received the Spirit of Truth, they are preaching, teaching, explaining, and helping people understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
This is one of our tasks, this is part of our mission, this is the work of the Holy Spirit, to guide others to truth.

Because the Spirit has been given to the Church and has enlightened her teachings, we are able to discern the foolishness of the ways of the world; how the ways of the world lead to destruction and separation from God.

Just as God gave the Israelites the pillar of fire to escape their slavery in Egypt, to guide them through the treacherous desert, to light their way in the darkness wilderness with all of its pagan ways, the fire of the Holy Spirit has been given to the Church to guide us through the darkness of the ages.

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, helps us convince—convict—the world about the error of sin and not believing in Jesus. He helps convince us to turn away from some of the sins that still linger in us, the destructive habits, the behaviors and attitudes that tear down relationships instead of building them up. He helps us show how Christianity, though not popular with the world, is attractive to those who yearn for truth and righteousness.

Over half a million adults became Catholic at Easter this year. The Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the Church, through the faithfulness of Catholics like ourselves, drew them, guided them to the truth of Christ.

May we continue to cooperate with the Spirit’s work to convict the world, and cooperate more fully by being bearers of truth always for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all bishops, priests, catechists, and parents may be faithful in preaching and teaching the saving Gospel of Christ.

For the healing of divisions caused by heresy, moral and doctrinal error among Christians.

For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.

For the deceased members of our families, friends and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who fought and died for our freedom.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.