Fear not, Jesus is always with you

CATHOLIC DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

Welcome to my blog. The Catholic Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us each day at least two readings from the Bible, plus several verses from a psalm which is an inspired response to one of the readings, normally the first.

There is a cycle (a two-year cycle for weekdays and a three-year cycle for Sundays) which covers the major parts of the Old Testament, the Gospels and the New Testament writings.

Through these readings we get our spiritual nourishment. In my blog I give the readings and the inspirations I have received in prayer. I want to share them with others. If they help some to get in touch with God and his image in this world, Jesus the Christ, then my purpose will be fulfilled. May God bless you through his Spirit.

If we wish to grow spiritually, then we must set aside time each day to prayerfully read the WORD OF GOD. In silence we allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the reading. We can respond with the PSALM.

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Monday 25 May 2020

Fear not, Jesus is always with you

Acts 1: 8

You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you,

and you will be my witnesses,

even to the ends of the earth, alleluia.

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Prayer

Father, as we prepare for the feast of Pentecost, we ask that the power of the Holy Spirit may come down on us all, so the Christians, everywhere, will know your will and manifest it in their daily lives. We make our prayer through your Son Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus Jesus

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First reading

Acts 19:1-8 ·

The moment Paul laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul made his way overland as far as Ephesus, where he found a number of disciples. When he asked, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ they answered, ‘No, we were never even told there was such a thing as a Holy Spirit.’ ‘Then how were you baptised?’ he asked. ‘With John’s baptism’ they replied. ‘John’s baptism’ said Paul ‘was a baptism of repentance; but he insisted that the people should believe in the one who was to come after him – in other words, Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the moment Paul had laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they began to speak with tongues and to prophesy. There were about twelve of these men.

He began by going to the synagogue, where he spoke out boldly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. He did this for three months. THE WORD OF THE LORD

Prayerful reflection

In the very beginning the Christian Church was very unstructured. There were the Twelve Apostles. They were in Jerusalem for the most part. But individual believers would spread the faith among the people they met. They preached as they had understood. There were no books, the Christian faith was based on hearing. People heard, believed and they in their turn would tell others. So, there was much inadequate instruction, as we gather in today’s reading. The people in Ephesus had not been instructed about the Holy Spirit, nor about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It will take a long time for there to be a uniform Christian faith. Here Paul instructs the new converts more fully in the faith, baptises them with the Baptism of Jesus and gives them the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit transformed them.

If we receive and positively welcome the Holy Spirit, we will experience this. We should pray earnestly each day for the Spirit to come down on with power. Welcome him. According to our sincerity and earnestness transformation takes place.

Psalm (Make the psalm your prayer of gratitude for God’s Word).        Psalm 68:2-7

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.

Let God arise, let his foes be scattered.

Let those who hate him flee before him.

As smoke is blown away so will they be blown away;

like wax that melts before the fire,

so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God.

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.

But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God,

they shall exult and dance for joy.

O sing to the Lord, make music to his name;

rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow,

such is God in his holy place.

God gives the lonely a home to live in;

he leads the prisoners forth into freedom.

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.

John 16:29-33

Be brave, for I have conquered the world

His disciples said to Jesus, ‘Now you are speaking plainly and not using metaphors! Now we see that you know everything, and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them:

‘Do you believe at last?

Listen; the time will come – in fact it has come already –

when you will be scattered,

each going his own way and leaving me alone.

And yet I am not alone,

because the Father is with me.

I have told you all this

so that you may find peace in me.

In the world you will have trouble,

but be brave: I have conquered the world.’ THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

Prayerful reflection

Jesus has overcome the world. We may be weak, unreliable, prone to sin and failure. The solution to everything is to stay close to Jesus. He has vanquished Satan by the strength of his love and obedience. Satan tried to conquer him in every way, but failed. In his death, Jesus triumphed. In our journey through life, we need not be alone, ever. We can be at peace always and we face anything with bravery. He is always with us.

Let us realise that Jesus is with us always, that we are never alone. Let us call on him constantly. Let us experience the presence of his Spirit in us.

Jn 14: 18; 16: 22

I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord;

I will come to you again, and your heart will rejoice, alleluia.

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Prayer

Father, be present to your children always through your Holy Spirit and may they experience your presence. Renew their lives daily, making them the image of your Son’s. We make our prayer through your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.