Frederick, Maryland,
United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among
Us” for
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Meditations:
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
6th Sunday of Easter
They received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:17)
As soon as the apostles heard about God’s work in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to find out what was happening. When they arrived and met the people whom Philip had evangelized, they had no hesitation about praying with them. They freely gave away what they had freely received, and as a result, many more people were filled with the Spirit.
Since the Spirit is already living in us through Baptism, the idea of being “filled” with the Spirit may be a little confusing. Maybe an analogy can help. When a husband and wife are in love, they are “filled” with each other. They cherish each other; they care for each other. They want to be together as much as possible. In a sense, they are being filled with each other’s love over and over again.
Similarly, we can be filled with the Spirit every day by turning to him in prayer and asking him to show us his love. Then we will respond by being preoccupied with the Lord no matter what we are doing. With the Spirit in the forefront of our minds, we will find ourselves trying our best to please him. What’s more, we’ll find him comforting us, leading us, and helping us feel God’s love more deeply.
Think about how much of an effect a husband and wife have on each other. They look out for each other’s interests above their own. They tend to be more kind, considerate, patient, and generous. Their love spreads beyond themselves to their children and neighbors, even to strangers. They are transformed by married love. Just so, when we are filled with the Spirit, we are changed. We become more peaceful and less irritable. We are more forgiving, more prayerful, and more dedicated to the mission of the Church. We are less selfish, less demanding, and less judgmental.
Never stop asking the Spirit to fill you!
“Lord, I want to be filled with your Holy Spirit every day. Never take your Holy Spirit away from me!” Amen.
Psalm 66: For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm.
1 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
2 Sing to the glory of his name!
Offer glory and praise!
3 Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds!
Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.
4 All the earth will worship you,
and will sing to you;
they will sing to your name.”
Selah.
5 Come, and see God’s deeds—
awesome work on behalf of the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land.
They went through the river on foot.
There, we rejoiced in him.
7 He rules by his might forever.
His eyes watch the nations.
Don’t let the rebellious rise up against him.
Selah.
16 Come, and hear, all you who fear God.
I will declare what he has done for my soul.
20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer,
nor his loving kindness from me.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear: 16 having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil. 18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
John 14:115 If you love me, keep my commandments. 16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor,[a] that he may be with you forever,— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
Footnotes:
a. John 14:16 Greek παρακλητον: Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comforter.
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
(Acts 8:5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 7 For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 There was great joy in that city.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 66: For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm.
1 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
2 Sing to the glory of his name!
Offer glory and praise!
3 Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds!
Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.
4 All the earth will worship you,
and will sing to you;
they will sing to your name.”
Selah.
5 Come, and see God’s deeds—
awesome work on behalf of the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land.
They went through the river on foot.
There, we rejoiced in him.
7 He rules by his might forever.
His eyes watch the nations.
Don’t let the rebellious rise up against him.
Selah.
16 Come, and hear, all you who fear God.
I will declare what he has done for my soul.
20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer,
nor his loving kindness from me.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear: 16 having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil. 18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
John 14:115 If you love me, keep my commandments. 16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor,[a] that he may be with you forever,— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
Footnotes:
a. John 14:16 Greek παρακλητον: Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comforter.)
1. In the first reading, we hear that the listeners “paid attention” when the word of God was proclaimed. How expectant or attentive are you when Scripture is read or when the homily is delivered at Mass? What steps can you take to be more open and attentive?
2. “Joy” appears in both the first reading (“There was great joy in that city.”) and the responsorial psalm (“Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.”). How do these readings describe the basis for this joy? What is the basis for your joy as you live out each day?
3. In the second reading, Peter encourages us to “always be ready” to share with others our faith. How ready are you? What are the obstacles that hold you back from sharing your faith with others? What would it take to overcome them?
4. What an incredible promise Jesus gives us in the Gospel reading: “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth” - that is, the Holy Spirit, God himself dwelling and remaining within each one of us from the time we were baptized! How much do you reverence God’s very presence within you through the indwelling Spirit?
5. The meditation ends with these words: “when we are filled with the Spirit, we are changed. We become more peaceful and less irritable. We are more forgiving, more prayerful, and more dedicated to the mission of the Church. We are less selfish, less demanding, and less judgmental.Never stop asking the Spirit to fill you!” What might you do to turn to the Lord more frequently during the day to ask him to fill you afresh with his Holy Spirit? What difference do you think this will make on how you live out your Christian life? Why?
6. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for a fresh infilling of his Holy Spirit. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
“Lord, I want to be filled with your Holy Spirit every day. Never take your Holy Spirit away from me!” Amen.
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