Psalm 104: 1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34“If you take away their breath,
they perish ... when you send forth
your spirit, they are created.”
Animated by the Spirit, the divine Breath,
we who are His creatures sing of the glory
of our Creator.
“When you send forth your Spirit …
you renew the face of the earth.”
God’s spirit is the source of all natural life.
So also the Holy Spirit is the source
of all supernatural life.
We are nothing without the divine Breath --
“When you take away their breath,
they perish and return to their dust.”
It is this same creative Breath
which came down on the disciples
in that locked room that St. Luke
speaks of in our 1st reading.
The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to go forth
and proclaim the Gospel boldly
to men of all nations, speaking different tongues.
We too are called to be baptized in the Spirit,
and to receive the divine Breath of the Lord.
Having been baptized in the Spirit, we are a new creation,
and are called to glorify the Lord in what we do.
In this way, as the Psalm says,
“May the Lord be glad in his works.”
Fortunately, for us too,
the Spirit is manifested
in each of us for some benefit
(as St. Paul reminds us in our 2nd reading).
All we have to do is
accept Christ and believe in him.
Then we too will have the gift of life.
Without the breath of God, we are nothing.
Just as the Holy Spirit empowered
the disciples at Pentecost,
so too are we empowered by our Creator.
The presence of the Holy Spirit within us
is how we share in the divinity of Christ.
Without the breath of the Holy Spirit,
we have no spiritual life.
But thanks to God's gift,
we are a new creation,
and we are baptized into Christ.
And that alone gives us reason to praise God.
As our psalmist says,
“Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the Lord.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm reminds us that we are
dependent on the Lord for our very breath.
Tell about what makes you aware of the 'divine Breath' in your life.
2. Our Sunday Psalm Response is,
'Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.'
Is the Holy Spirit doing a work in you? Are you a 'new creation?'
Speak about your baptism in the Holy Spirit.
1. Our Psalm reminds us that we are
dependent on the Lord for our very breath.
Tell about what makes you aware of the 'divine Breath' in your life.
2. Our Sunday Psalm Response is,
'Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.'
Is the Holy Spirit doing a work in you? Are you a 'new creation?'
Speak about your baptism in the Holy Spirit.
1. The love, the peace the hope I have is given to me by the Holy Spirit who reflects Jesus and God. The charisms we are given by the Holy Spirit to evangelize to others, feed the poor, shelter the homeless are given to those whose will is open to these gifts. The way the Spirit is known is by the unity we share with one in another who share in Jesus'Love on earth with each other.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit is a huge part of our faith. It is in the Trinity and the Holy Spirit guides us today like it guided the apostles.
ReplyDelete1. The love, the peace, the hope I have is given to me by the Holy Spirit, who reflects Jesus and God. The charisms we are given by the Holy Spirit to evangelize others, feed the poor, shelter the homeless, are given to those whose will is open to these gifts. The way the Spirit is known is by the unity we share with one another, who in turn share Jesus' Love on earth with each other.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit is a huge part of our faith. It is a part of the Trinity, and the Holy Spirit guides us today like it guided the apostles.
ReplyDeleteI believe we finally come to realize we are dependent on the Lord for our very breath when we see a close family member or friend stop breathing. One moment, that person is a living, breathing human being whom we love, and in the next it's over, and it is now merely the lifeless shell of a body. (2 absolutes:.... death and taxes!)
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope the Holy Spirit is working in me.
Had the Holy Spirit not come down on the apostles, then our Church might not have been here or as widespread. The Holy Spirit is very important to humans and helps with the natural troubles of life. I can relate to this more because I was just Confirmed. I am glad that God gave us a Protector, just like he gave us a Savior.
ReplyDelete1. Our every breath depends on the spirit which God breaths into us. And so I have a life - the divine Breath. In this Psalm I am aware of life. He gave me a license to live in this world. Because of that I sing the glory of our Creator who created Heaven and Earth. Praise the Lord O my soul.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, as Jesus Christ promised us, He sent us the Holy Spirit, Our Counselor, who is leading us to the Truth. When we are Confirmed, and if we are Baptized in the Holy Spirit, we become a new creation. Because we are led by the Holy Spirit, we receive spiritual peace, overflowing joy, and a praising spirit, along with strength, courage, and boldness, as our apostles had. And furthermore, we'll get greater guidance on a daily basis. We have a desire to glorify Jesus in every possible
way and a desire to go out and spread the Good News. Since my baptism in the Holy Spirit I am more aware of God's love for me and have a keen insight into the Scriptures to know His Greatness. Also, because the Spirit convicts me of my sins, I have to go to Confession more often.
I've sought the power of the Holy Spirit for my personal intentions when it seems that supernatural element is necessary to boost my natural life. What I have failed to do is be more inclusive and broader in my request for His intervention - I will now be asking of Him to be with my family and community as well! I have to remember that our God is an awesome God!
ReplyDeleteI've sought the power of the Holy Spirit for my personal intentions when it seems that supernatural element is necessary to boost my natural life. What I have failed to do is be more inclusive and broader in my request for His intervention - I will now be asking of Him to be with my family and community as well! I have to remember that our God is an awesome God!
ReplyDelete