Friday, May 29th
OPENING PRAYER: Father, pour out your Spirit upon all your children,
especially on all the members of our parish family.
Grant us all a new vision of Your glory, a new experience of Your power,
a new faithfulness to Your word, and a new consecration to Your service,
that Your love may grow among us and your Kingdom come.
We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
REFLECTION: Silvester O’Flynn – Born of the Spirit
The ending of one period is always the beginning of another. When the grain is harvested, the work of the reaper is completed but the task of the miller has just begun. As Jesus completed his mission, the task of the church was just beginning. He set the wheels in motion. He breathed on the disciples and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ On that day, the words of the psalmist attained a new meaning: ‘You send forth your spirit; they are created; and you renew the face of the earth.’ (Psalm 103)
How does this new breathing of the Spirit change and renew? What are the fruits of the new life? Paul tells us that it is not the spirit of slavery and fear. ‘The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again’; it is the spirit of children who recognise God as the loving Father. Nor is it the spirit of timidity and weakness, but ‘the spirit of power, and love, and self-control.’(2 Timothy 1:7)
When the fiery tongue of the Spirit ignites a soul, the interior fire will be manifested in many ways. Religion will be no half-hearted affair dominated by servile fear but a full, joyful celebration of God who is good and loving. The Spirit of power and divine energy moves even gentle, little people to astonishing initiatives and even more astonishing courage in perseverance. The presence of the Spirit is always marked with joy, even in the midst of suffering. There is none of the sadness of sin nor lives of ‘quiet desperation’. God is praised, goodness is observed and life is celebrated. The coming of the Spirit cannot be tied down: for the work of the Spirit is as free as the wind. ‘The wind blows wherever it pleases; you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit.’ (John 3:8)
CLOSING LITANY:
Response: Spirit of God, come into our hearts: make us your new creation.
Spirit of light, let the fire of your wisdom burn brightly within us. R.
Spirit of silence, in the still moment may we be open to God’s presence. R.
Spirit of courage, dispel the fear that lingers in our hearts. R.
Spirit of fire, engulf us with the passion of Christ’s love. R.
Spirit of peace, help us to be attentive to God’s word in the world. R.
Spirit of joy, enthuse us to proclaim aloud the Good News. R.
Spirit of love, compel us to open ourselves to the needs of others. R.
Spirit of power, bestow the gift of your strength upon us. R
Spirit of truth, guide us to walk in the way of Christ. R.