“Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” Jn 16:32-33    

These last two verses of the gospel have been keeping my attention as I prayed with the readings for today. Why? Because I believe the Holy Spirit is guiding me to pay attention to Jesus’ words.

Personally, my ‘world’ is pretty good. I have a job and a roof over my head. I have food in the fridge and in my cupboard. I have electricity, internet, running water & indoor plumbing. I am in relatively good shape and have access to healthcare. I have family, friends, and pets. I have a personal relationship with God. I am truly blessed.

Our world is troubled: massive storms & climate change, civil wars and genocides, endangered species and extinctions, social angsts and evils. There are many who do not have a home or the necessities for a productive life or what they do have is not safe. Do these things affect my world? YES, 100 percent. YES, is my answer. As a member of the world, but more importantly, as a member of the Catholic Church, I am charged through my baptism to advocate the teachings and commandments of my God and my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells us to take courage! He conquered the world, for each of us, by His death and resurrection! Alleluia! Pope Francis in his May 26th Regina Caeli address reminds us, “Jesus returns to the Father, but continues to instruct and animate his disciples through the action of the Holy Spirit.”

Today is the 4th day of the Pentecost novena. If you are not familiar with this, it’s the first of all novenas. A novena (the Latin for nine is ‘novem’) is nine days of prayer usually for a special intention or grace, hence this novena is dedicated to the Holy Spirit. The Pentecost novena has its roots in the New Testament and the time the disciples spent in prayer after the Ascension of Jesus. The focus in the novena today is on fortitude. Do I have the courage to listen and live out what God has created and called me to do?

“In all that we do, we strive to present ourselves as ministers of God, acting with patient endurance amidst trials, difficulties, distresses, beatings, imprisonments and riots; as men and women familiar with hard work, innocence, knowledge and patience in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love as men and women with the message of truth and the power of God.” 2 Cor 6:4-7

I am not an influential writer as St. Paul was in his letter to the Corinthians and all the epistles, nor am I a talented debater as St. Paul was at the end of the first reading as he spoke in the synagogue for three months, but I am inspired by the same Holy Spirit. We can all make a difference in my world because of God’s life within us through His Spirit!

Pray with me:

A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me.  Amen.

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