“I think it is impossible for love to be content to tread water” (St. Teresa of Avila).
Love cannot be content to remain in the same place because it is infinite. “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 Jn 4:16). Read More
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
“Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine”.
The term “poor” includes all of us, especially those who are aware of their own poverty.
“Souls need a certain divine touch, and time presses; do not be afraid of anything, I am your Father; I will help you in your efforts and your work. I will sustain you always and make you enjoy, already here below, peace and joy of soul, making your ministry and your zealous works bear fruit” (Message of the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
Today, after the Feast of the Ascension, we begin the novena in preparation for the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In my reflections over the next few days, I would like to step out of the usual framework of daily meditations and contemplate some aspects and ways in which the Holy Spirit works. The aim is to get to know Him better and thus to prepare ourselves for the Solemnity of Pentecost. As a guide for these meditations I will take the Pentecost Sequence, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful prayers of the Church:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).
Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
“Mankind needs the wedding garment in order to come to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in time and eternity” (Inner Word).
The Church teaches us that we are invited to the Supper of the Lamb and calls us happy.
But to enter the Father’s house forever, we need the wedding garment. This condition applies to all mankind, for all people are invited and none are excluded. However, we cannot enter without the wedding garment. It has been woven for us by the infinite goodness of our Father and washed and made white by the Blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:14). Now we are called to put it on. Then we can confidently enter the wedding hall, and the Bridegroom of humanity will assign us the place He has prepared for us.
It is the wedding garment of the Lamb that makes us worthy to enter. This dignity is not ours. Nor is it the dignity we received from God when we were created in His image and likeness. It is not sufficient for eternity because the transgressions of human beings have sullied it in many ways, and they have often strayed so far from God’s ways that they have almost completely spoiled its original dignity.
But the Son of God, sent by the Father, came into the world to redeem humanity. He had to raise human beings from the dust, wounded and bruised, and give them the new life that comes from God. Therefore, we can now awaken to our full dignity, turn completely to God and put on the wedding garment for mankind. We can now enter the New Jerusalem because our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev 21:27).
“Never lose confidence in the hours of weakness. I also make use of them” (Inner Word).
Jn 16:12-15
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Read More
