Sr Shirley Martin of the Delegation of\u00a0 G.B.I.<\/p>\n
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n “Under the guidance of the Spirit, our personal relationship with Christ leads us to mission.”<\/em> RL 50<\/span><\/p>\n Pentecost 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n “You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.”<\/em> Acts 1:8<\/span><\/p>\n After the Ascension the troubled disciples returned to the upper room and \u2018<\/em>With one heart all these were constantly persevering in prayer, together with the women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus.\u2019<\/em> After the wedding at Cana where Mary tells the servants \u2018Do whatever He tells you\u2019 <\/em>she remains a silent presence in the Gospels particularly at the foot of the Cross and now in the upper room with the disciples as they awaited the coming of the Spirit. Mary pondered on each event and word in her heart and simply remained faithfully present as a woman who listened and as a woman of hope.<\/p>\n Reflect on Mary\u2019s presence in the upper room. On the evening of Easter Jesus appeared to the apostles and breathed on them His Spirit. On the morning of Pentecost tongues of fire rested on each of them as a sign of God\u2019s presence and a rushing wind filled the house and their minds and hearts.<\/p>\n “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them the power to express themselves.”<\/em>\u00a0 (Acts 2:4)<\/span><\/p>\n And so began the missionary activity of the apostles to \u2018Go and make disciples of all nations.\u2019 <\/em>The symbols of tongues of fire and wind at Pentecost reminds each of us of the urgency of our call to live out the mission of our baptism and confirmation: to the ends of the earth.<\/em><\/p>\n Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, <\/em> Today the world needs people who are filled with the Holy Spirit and whose lives proclaim I am a mission on this earth. <\/em>Just as the apostles went forth after Pentecost, so each of us is called to go forth with courage, faith and perseverance bearing the fruits of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22)<\/span><\/em> whatever our age or state of health. As we recall the day of our own confirmation we can celebrate God\u2019s Spirit in our lives by being witnesses to the Good News in the world in which we live. Together may we use our gifts to be Christ bearers to others, for the Spirit is present in the events of each day. May Mary, who, moved by the Spirit, welcomed the Word of Life in the depths of her being, help us to say our own \u2018Yes\u2019 to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.. <\/em>(Pope Francis EG 288)<\/span><\/p>\n Come, Holy Spirit, The Spirit that Opens Hearts<\/em><\/p>\n In the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-13 we see that the Spirit transformed the hearts of the disciples into women and men who would \u2018bear witness to Jesus.\u2019<\/em> (Jn 15:27)<\/span> The Spirit made them go forth from themselves and were not afraid to spread the Good News not only by their words but by their lives. And so it was with Marie Louise Trichet, first Daughter of Wisdom, who \u2018aspired to silence and the hidden life, but went to live with the poor at the General Hospital in Poitiers, surrounded by noise and quarrels.\u2019<\/em> Led by the Spirit and faithful to Christ\u2019s call she encouraged others throughout her long life to \u2018Pray to the Spirit who opens hearts and to listen to His voice, to what He has to say to you in the depths of your heart.\u2019 <\/em>Marie Louise listened attentively to the Spirit and lived the gifts of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Following her example may our hearts be open to the Spirit, who guides us into the truth, who renews and transforms us so that we may act \u2018with Love, out of love\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n The Holy Spirit guides you, renews you and sets you free. Flame-dancing Spirit, Come, Source image : Pixabay\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sr Shirley Martin of the Delegation of\u00a0 G.B.I. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 “Under the guidance of the Spirit, our personal relationship with Christ leads us to mission.” RL 50 Pentecost 2021 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[90],"class_list":["post-5592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-prayer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nRecall a time when the quiet presence of a friend gave you hope.<\/p>\n
\nto be Christ bearers to the world. <\/em>
\nMay Mary\u2019s presence be with us on our journey.<\/em>
\nYou send forth your Spirit\u2026<\/em>
\nand you renew the face of the earth. <\/em>
\nPsalm 103:30<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
\nwe thank you for the rich variety of your gifts.
\nHelp us today to discover and use our gifts,
\nand to rejoice in the gifts of others.
\nCome and renew us, O Spirit of God,
\nbringer of life and hope and love.
\nAmen<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDo you believe this?<\/em><\/p>\n
\nsweep us off our feet and
\ndance us through our days.
\nSurprise us with your rhythms,
\ndare us to try new steps, explore
\nnew dreams and new missions.
\nRelease us from what holds us back,
\nto open our hearts with joy
\nand to be sowers of hope.
\nAnd in the intervals,
\nrest us,
\nin your still centre.\u00a0<\/em>
\nAnn Lewin<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n