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WSC Reflection for June 2019

Community Word: The indwelling of the Holy Spirit transforms our lives.

Order: “… Follow me.”(Lk 9:59a)


Reflection:
God takes perpetual residence in our heartswhen we are filled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings with Him an entirely new life of love, relationship and service, and our lives are transformed through the different gifts we receive in our baptism, confirmation and, for some, their LSS experience. A Christian’s moral life is sustained by the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. This permanent disposition makes man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1830). St. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthian 12:4-11 that there are different kinds of spiritual gifts produced by the same Spirit, given to each individual for some benefit as he wishes.

For disciples of Christ, the fruit of the Holy Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23) are manifested and life changing effects are seen. This fruitis the perfection the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruit of eternal glory. Jesus Christrevealed to His disciples the new role the Spirit of Truth would play in their lives: “He lives with you and will be in you” (Jn 14:17).The indwelling of the Holy Spirit enriches a disciple’s prayer life and intercedes for him in prayer (cf.Rom 8:26-27).Our bodybecomes the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” the Holy Sanctuary where God resides. This is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that transforms our lives and empowers us to respond to the calling of Jesus when He says: “Follow Me!” (Lk 9:59a).

Let us reflect on how our lives can be transformed through the various scriptural readings of the feast days we will be celebrating during the month of June.

On the first week, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord and our theme is – Our lives are transformed when we repent, forgive and preach in His Name. The Ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s heavenly domain when He will come again (cf Act 1:11). We are reminded of our own mission to spread the Good News and preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nationsin Jesus’ name, to be witnesses of what Christ has done in our lives when we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior.To testify, we can just stay right where we are and influence people around us, by our good example through witnessing especially to the “unchurched,” and lead them to repentance and forgiveness and to embrace the faith. We can actively bring family members, officemates and friends to our renewal programs, such as Encounters and LSS, and encourage them to attend Christian maturity teachings. This we can do as Jesus tells us that, “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” (Ac1:8). When a sinner receives the Holy Spirit, the Spirit is the One who leads him to repentance and be in communion with those who have been forgiven. He is the One who enlightens in order to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel.

On the second week, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday and our theme is – Our lives are transformed when we use the spiritual gifts to serve the body of Christ.Like the Apostles on the first Pentecost, we have received the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. Our souls are infused with sanctifying grace that help us live a transformed Christian life and be obedient to the commandments of God. “Those who keep the word of Jesus, they are privileged to enjoy the indwelling of the fullness of the HolySpirit,”(Jn. 14:23). Jesus and the Father gave us the Holy Spirit so that we may be sanctified. Our sanctification is achieved through our daily personal communion with God and our service in the body of Christ through the different spiritual gifts we received. As we grow spiritually in Christ, God is pleased and the community that we serve will benefit. But if the body of Christ suffers because of the neglect of some, we all suffer. Let us reflect upon the purpose of the Holy Spirit in our life. Have we allowed Him to flow freely in our life so He can guide and teach us the purpose for whichthe spiritual gifts were given to us? Yet, we can always be assured of this week’s promise: “The Holy Spirit… will teach you everything that I told you,”(Jn 14:26).

On the third week, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and our theme is – Our lives are transformed when we allow the Spirit to lead us to Jesus, the Truth of The Father’s love. Today, we are invited to consider what we believe about God who revealed Himself to us in the Holy Trinity – one God in three Persons. The Holy Trinity has a great role in transforming our lives. The new covenant reveals the action done by the Son and the Spirit, inseparably one with that of the Father. The creative cooperation is clearly affirmed in the Church’s rule of faith, there exist but one God. He is Father God, Creator, Author and Giver of Order. He made all creation by Himself, that is, by His word and by His wisdom; the Son and the Spirit so to speak are His hands. Creation is the common work of the Holy Spirit. In the life of a disciple, He leads us to the deep understanding of who Jesus is in our transformed lives. Jesus gave His assurance to His disciples that He will send the Holy Spirit who will empower them to continue His work and teaching – “He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming,” (Jn16:13b).
On the fourth week, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and our theme is – Our lives are transformed when we partake of the Eucharist and share Christ with one another. We remember Jesus in the most personal way by consuming His body in Holy Communion. Jesus offered not just a simple thing but Himself because of His great love for mankind. He is actually present every time we celebrate the Eucharist in Holy Mass. When we partake of the Eucharist, our lives are renewed and transformed and we become Christ-like as His true disciples. When we receive the Eucharist and share Christ to others, not only are our lives transformed, but it is also an act of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which we express our gratitude to God for the most awesome gift of His Son and for all that He has done through creation, redemption and sanctification. The Eucharist is Christ who satisfies our longing for a fulfilling and abundant life. True to this week’s promise – “They ate and were satisfied, (Lk 9:17a.

Lastly, our theme for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time is –Our lives are transformed when we commit wholeheartedly to follow Christ. To follow Jesus is to live a renewed and transformed life. The call of being a disciple entails a commitment to follow Christ at all cost without any condition. This testimony of a community member aptly describes the life of a follower of Jesus.

“When I had my personalconversion as Christ’s disciple in this community, it demanded of my time, talent and treasure.I surrendered my own personal dreams, old friends and the place where I dreamt of retiring someday.I also surrendered my achievements in the world and there was no looking back; my life is now all about Christ.My baptism in the Spirit experience was the turning point of my life asa transformed disciple.”

Today, Jesus is telling us – ‘If you want to follow Me, follow without reservation.I want your sacrifice. I want your total commitment.’ And as we live in Christ as Hisdisciple,we will receive this promise – “You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence the delights at your right hand forever,” (Ps 16:11).

 
 

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