Monday 25th May 2020
Seventh week of Easter
Acts 19:1-8, John 16:29-33
We have entered the last week of
the Easter season, and we prepare more intently to receive the Holy Spirit. The
day of Pentecost is usually associated with the day of the Holy Spirit, and on
that day we ask the Spirit of God to fall afresh on us. The readings continue
to show us that we cannot be Christians without the Holy Spirit.
In the first reading of today, we
see that it is very easy for one to claim to be a Christian, but not all those
who call themselves Christians are truly Christians. Some people in Ephesus had
heard the word of God and believed, but they had not received the Holy Spirit
to make them strong in the faith and give them courage to defend the same
faith.
If Paul had not prayed over the
people of Ephesus in the first reading
for them to receive the Holy Spirit, they would have easily been swept away by
persecution.
This is why Jesus tells his
disciples in the gospel reading, that if they do not have the Holy Spirit, they
will be scattered when persecution comes. They will not be able to stand in the
midst of little suffering. Those who have the Spirit of God, know during hard
times that Jesus has overcome the world, and that hard times do not last
forever. Let us approach Jesus today to baptise us with his Holy Spirit on the
day of Pentecost, so that we may also conquer the world as he did. God help us.
Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP
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