Acts 2:1–11

 

 

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit totally transformed the apostles, changing everything.  Once cowardly, confused and lacking in confidence, they became convinced, certain and clear after receiving the Holy Spirit.  The old creation gave way to the new.

 

The Spirit is given so that we can live out our vocation, so that we can live a life in the Spirit.  At the dawn of creation God breathed life into creation and at the birth of the new creation the Lord breathed his life into his disciples, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22).  Our capacity to receive the Spirit is determined by our attitude.  The Spirit retreats from self-reliance or self-confidence, but is quick to comfort the broken-hearted, the poor in spirit, the needy and the humble.  The disciples were filled with the Spirit because they were empty in themselves.

 

The gift of the Spirit at Pentecost is a recurring event in the life of the Church.  Today we can receive and enjoy the Spirit in a new and exciting way.  Don’t be afraid to cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.”  What can prevent us from being filled with the Spirit is that we rely too heavily on our own ability, not necessarily realising that even this is given to us by God.  Our confidence in ourselves is often greater than our confidence in God!  We need to be humbled by our own limitations and overwhelmed by our own weakness so that we can pray with heartfelt conviction:

“Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.  Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary . . . and following the lead of blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth . . . justice . . . love and peace.” (Pope St John XXIII)

 

Acts 2:1–11 • Psalm 103(104):1, 24, 29–31, 34 • Romans 8:8–17 • John 14:15–16, 23–26

 

Photo by Bahram Bayat on Unsplash

Matthew 18:15–20

 

We do not have to learn how to sin and to hurt other people.  For most of us, the ability comes all too naturally.  The number of ways that we can sin against others and they can sin against us is so great that a web of suffering is created.  Yet we are called to live in the world relating to one another as brothers and sisters. There is plenty of opportunity for disharmony.  Jesus knew this and gave practical advice on how to resolve conflict and maintain discipline in the church.

Firstly, he tells us to deal with problems individually if possible.  This course of action could be described as ‘speaking the truth in love’.  But there are pitfalls even at this stage.  Resentments that we harbour against others may be due more to our pride, jealousy and sensitivity than to the faults of others.  Sometimes we can find ourselves being irritated easily.  It is said that we should make a list of things about other people that irritate us and then study that list, because it contains all the features in our own character that we most despise about ourselves.  Still, other people do sometimes hurt us, and the remedy that Jesus prescribes is not a display of intimidating anger or an attempt to manipulate or retaliate, but simply to speak the truth.

Next, Jesus describes situations where the offender is unrepentant.  Once again it is the truth, supported by witnesses, that underpins the course of action to be taken.  If the offender is ultimately recalcitrant, he or she is to be shunned as if a ‘tax collector’.

Finally, Jesus makes promises that speak of his closeness to his disciples through the ages.  Any group of people meeting together in his name have the assurance that God will listen to and grant their requests.  And Jesus himself will be present among them.  It is a truth that we should remember when we struggle, as we may so often, with distractions in prayer and feel that our prayers go unheard by a God who seems to be far away from us.  The Lord is always with us.  He is always listening.

Lord, you call as to love one another.  Help me to be more aware of my own faults than those of others.  But give me the courage and the love to speak the truth to others when I need to do so.

 

Matthew 10:7-15

 

 

Jesus’s instructions to his followers are as relevant today as when he sent them out to proclaim the message of the kingdom of God.  But perhaps our hearts sink at the prospect of witnessing for our faith.  Increasingly in society, having faith, practising faith and witnessing to it are widely misunderstood and considered strange.  In any event, faith is considered personal, private.

 

But the key to all evangelising is revealed in v.8: “Freely you have received; freely give.”  Our vocation – whatever our role or ministry, whether we are an ordinary Christian, an ordained priest or religious or even an Archbishop or the Pope – is to grasp the great gift of the gospel of salvation: to appreciate its free, unmerited and undeserved nature and therefore to be filled with the joy of the evangelist.

 

An evangelist or witness is simply someone who has freely received the joy, hope and love of the gospel and who in their turn freely gives the joy, love and hope of the gospel.  Yes, it’s challenging and difficult, but we have the Holy Spirit and he gives us wisdom – as well as tact, sensitivity, intelligence, understanding, knowledge and patience.  And courage.

 

We are just ordinary men and women, workers in the vineyard of Christ.  Our task is always to be prepared to share with others the reason for our hope, joy and love.  Our challenge is to be filled with hope, joy and love which speaks to others’ hearts.

 

 

Chris

John 1:1-18

 

The key to the mystery of life and death is found in the revelation that in the beginning was the Word.  The Word was God, and through the Word everything was created and has its being.

 

The beating heart of life has its source in the Word.

 

The wonder, beauty and glory of Christian revelation is that the Word broke into human history as a human being.  The eternal entered time.  The First-born clothed himself with our humanity.  The meaning, purpose and goal of our existence was revealed.  God became man in order that we might enjoy his divine life.

 

The truth of the incarnation liberates us from despair and hopelessness.  its light illuminates the darkness.  Our lasting inheritance is that through and in Christ we have become children of God.

 

In this truth we stand with dignity, joy, confidence and hope.  As we contemplate the beauty and the wonder of the incarnation, our faith is strengthened and our hope renewed.

 

On the eve of a new year it is good both to look back and to look forward.  We can look back in thanks and look forward in hope.  We can rejoice in Good’s goodness and grace to us and thank him for all that unfolded in 2019.

 

The new year ahead of us we dedicate to the loving care and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life; through his power we shall plumb new depths of God’s grace and wisdom.

 

 

Chris

(from Bible Alive)