Daily Gospel Reflection for May 20, 2018

Today's Gospel: John 20:19-23 or John 15:26-27; 16:12-15 - Pentecost Sunday Pentecost! Every year I celebrate this great feast with little children at the church. We sing, we light candles, and we ask the Holy Spirit into our lives in a special way - we celebrate! Jesus tells his disciples that he has so much more to give them; so much more for us! And it is the Spirit Who will reveal it. Through the Spirit, we have access to all of Jesus - and we know that everything the Father is and has is Jesus’ as well. And He gives us His Spirit freely! In the first experience of Pentecost, the disciples went out with bold confidence to share the Good News when they received that gift. I think back to these children I work with - they too are emboldened by the Spirit, and unencumbered by the baggage age brings. They will joyfully declare to you, whether they know you or not, that Jesus lives in their hearts, that the Holy Spirit gives us great gifts. Can we, too, go out unencumbered like these children? They take Jesus’ words seriously, they too want to bring the Good News to all the earth! I wonder what our own experience might be if we were to jump into the promise of the Spirit - to fully believe that “when He comes, the Spirit of truth, He will guide you to all truth,” and have that flame lit within us. Even for one day, if not our whole future. The Spirit, after all, is willing. May our flesh allow the libation of the Spirit to overflow in us, just like in the little children.

Ponder:

What might the Spirit be calling you to proclaim? Are you ready for that spark of the Spirit in your life?

Pray:

Come Holy Spirit! Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew; Wash the stains of guilt away: Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray.