June 02, 2014

Sts. Marcellinus and Peter

Acts 19: 1-8

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.”

On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved. http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations

In the Name...

Each of us was baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We begin most prayer times as we make the sign of the cross and repeat with these same words. As with most prayer formulas it is easy to take what we say for granted. This week between the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost offers an important moment to pay attention to the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life.

What gifts of God’s Holy Spirit do I most need in my life as June 2014 begins? There are seven formal gifts of the Holy Spirit identified in Scripture: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, holiness, reverence for God’s presence. Perhaps one of these stands out as a gift I really need right here and now. Beg Jesus and the Father to fill your heart with this special gift.

The gifts of the Spirit are personal, but they also come to the communities we belong to -- our family, our church community, our wider world. Take some moments this week to beg the Holy Spirit to send peace...patience...forgiveness… kindness...generosity...faithfulness...joy.

And ask the Lord to make you an agent of these gifts wherever you go, whatever you accomplish. Come, Holy Spirit!

—The Jesuit Prayer Team

Prayer

Come, Lord Jesus, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts and homes. Show us the way to renew the face of that corner of the earth where we live and love and serve you. Holy Spirit of God, fill my life with your gifts of peace, hope, and new life. Amen.