Saturday of Fourth Week in Easter, May 5, 2007

Scripture: Acts 13:44-52. Psalm 98. John 14:7-14. Lectionary # 284.

"And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Would
that we all could experience such gifts from God each day and be aware of
the presence of the Holy Spirit in all of our relationships with each other
and in our daily routine of work, prayer, ministry, and socializing or
recreating. And, you know what? It is possible to have such graces by
being aware each time we awaken to a new day that the Holy Spirit is
dwelling within us not only with joy but with the other gifts and fruits of
the Holy Spirit. Like Paul and Barnabas we, too, have been sent after
being anointed in Baptism to bring Good News to others and to enjoy hearing
it ourselves. We all share in the priesthood, the prophetic call, and the
leadership of Jesus. We are not programmed to follow a philosophical
ideology but a faith oriented path given to us through the sacraments
especially Baptism and the Eucharist. The essentials for the journey under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit are there in our faith communities and our
sacraments. The Holy Spirit is present in us and in the world. Being
aware of the Spirit gives us joy. We see this happening to Thomas and
Philip in the Gospel of John in chapter 14. Their questions and statements
to Jesus results in his giving them a great revelation about who he is in
relationship to the Father. Both Philip and Thomas are growing in their
faith and trust in the Lord and it is having some results in them. I think
they were convinced as Jesus ends today's scriptures with this, "If in my
name you ask me for anything, I will do it." Let us be thankful we awoke
to another day to ponder over the comforting message of Luke in the Acts
and John in his Gospel. Amen.