Hearing Is Believing

In the gospels we see accounts of Jesus at prayer, and in the account of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, we hear some of the words Jesus is saying in prayer. Clearly, when Jesus prays he enters into a "communion", presence with the Father. Consider these text:

• + And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His VOICE you have never heard, his form you have never seen; Jo.5:37
• + It is written in the prophets, `And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Jo.6:45
• + I have much to say about you and much to judge; but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." Jo.8:26
• + I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father." Jo.8:38
• + For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. Jo.12:49
• + No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. Jo. 15:15

As Christians, when we pray, we enter into a communion of spirits with Jesus. We too, seek to "hear", (Lord speak ... I am listening.) This form of prayer is essential to the evangelist. Like Jesus, the evangelist is to proclaim what they hear. When Jesus said, "... you have not known him; I know him … and I keep his word." Jo.8:55 , he was showing the religious leaders what was missing in their leadership. How can you talk about someone you do not know?

Praying With Scriptures

The best place to begin praying, so as to hear the Voice of the Lord, is with the scriptures. Scripture is the Word of God. Already, God is speaking through the written Word. 

Listen! What do you Hear?

Learning how to "listen" to the scriptures is different from reading the scripture or studying the scriptures. You see the words on the page, the sound of the words comes to you as the reader speaks. But, what do you hear? Little children are often corrected, "... pay attention, I'm speaking to You!" The dictionary defines "attention" this way: 

(... a concentration of the mind on a single object or thought, especially one preferentially selected from the many, with a view to clarifying receptivity by narrowing the range of stimuli.)

When we come to prayer, our minds may be a blur of thinking about all manner of things, creating so much static in our minds that hearing the Lord's voice will be virtually impossible. Having a passage, even a verse, even a single word of scripture helps us to concentrate, and so begin the process of listening.

"Preferentially selected from the many ..."  Having a structured approach to selecting scripture for one's prayer, is most helpful. There are several approaches one can use. Choosing the best one for your spiritual journey at this time is very important. But it all begins when you open the Word and pray - "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

More on selecting scripture for prayer to come.

Tell The Good News

Having now complete our series on Baptism In The Holy Spirit, which followed our Lenten series and prepared us for the celebration of Pentecost, I will begin  a new series, focused on Evangelization. 

In Mark's gospel account, Ch. 16: we have what is called, "the Great Commission". Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.  Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation". 

From its earliest beginnings, the Church has been called to this vocation of evangelization. As seen in this text from Mark it has two aspects;

1. Believe in your own heart.
2. Share your belief with others.

At first, this sharing of faith was directed to those who did not know Christ or his gospel; which continues to be its purpose today. The "New" evangelization has a different focus, it is directed to those who are already numbered among believers, but who have become disconnected from a living faith, a faith that influences their life, who may still attend worship occasionally, all be it, nominally. Studies in profiles of religious belief and practice in Europe and North America today, show a marked decline in all Christian churches.

Our focus this past Easter time, leading up to Pentecost, has been on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is first stage of evangelization, being able to say, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, "Jesus is Lord! I have been touched in my deepest being, by his love for me. I truly know him and desire to draw ever closer to him. Teach me Lord." It is on this foundation of a living, personal faith, that the second part of evangelization, called catechises, can begin to instruct us, unpack for us, the mysteries of our faith.

These two aspects of belief are inseparable. Both must coexist if one's faith is to be true faith. We will continue in these pages, to seek to deepen our experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or as it is also called today, "the Grace of Renewal", and to see how we can be evangelist of this beautiful grace for others.

Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Mark 9:23-24

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Thirteen

PENTECOST

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”

PRAYER FOR GRACE:

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you.

POINTS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PRAY:

• Today is the birthday of the Church.
• What Jesus' disciples are experiencing is a direct result of the action of the Holy Spirit's presence in their midst.
• They go from hiding in fear, behind locked doors, to the market place, for all to see and hear.
• The tongues of meany languages, is a sign of the Church's universal mission to preach the gospel.
• Each one of us is called to be an evangelist; most important to realize in these days of the New Evangelization. 
• "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1Peter 3:15) This is the way we are to evangelize. 
• Who will ask us about our faith if they are not inspired by what they see in our lives?
• The gifts of the Spirit are meant to empower our life of faith. The fruits of the Spirit are the evidence, for all to see, that the Spirit is working in us.
• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Gal. 5:22

REVIEW OF PRAYER:

• Was there a time in your prayer that evoked a change in the way you were feeling?
• Were you able to picture the event in your imagination?Did you identify with any particular person in the passage?
• Was there anything in your prayer that touched your heart?
• Can you name the feelings you experienced?
• Did you hear the Spirit, in your mind's ear, speaking to you?
• What areas of your personal life seemed to be coming to mind as you prayed?
• Do you have a desire to return again to this passage and prayer?
• Described what you have learned.
• What questions do you now have following your prayer?

PRAYING WITH MARY ON PENTECOST

Holy Mary Mother of God, on Pentecost Day / you gathered all the friends of Jesus / in that meeting room of prayer. / Jesus had instructed that all must come together in prayer, / to wait in trusting hope for the Promised One to come. / In the mystery of God’s grace, / let us gather with you now. / We desire with all our hearts, / that the Anointing of Pentecost may come upon us once again. / Pray for us dear Mary, that the Mighty Wind of God’s Breath / will come and fill our house of prayer. / Pray that Jesus your Son / will send down upon us now, those tongues of flame, / to enkindle in our hearts the fire of love and the light of faith . / Pray that our tongues be freed so that we might fill this house with the praises of God. / Pray O Queen of heaven, that the Holy Spirit will give to our hearts a song of joy and thanksgiving / for His mighty works now done in our midst.

Come Holy Spirit, come. / Come down upon us now. / Melt our frozen hearts, reshape our distorted minds, / renew our sagging spirits with your Breath of Life. Fr. Curtin

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Twelve

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

 No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.

Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. You know how, when you were pagans, you were constantly attracted and led away to mute idols. Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. 

• To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; 
• to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 
• to another faith by the same Spirit; 
• to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; 
• to another mighty deeds; 
• to another prophecy; 
• to another discernment of spirits; 
• to another varieties of tongues; 
• to another interpretation of tongues. 

But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

PRAYER FOR GRACE:

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you.

POINTS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PRAY:

• The gifts are spiritual, yet real, discernible, and not merely one's natural ability.
• The gifts are given to individuals, but they are meant to be used for the benefit of the whole Body, the Church.
• We all have a vocation, a calling from God. Each day will have its special task. Do you know what is your's for today?

REVIEW OF PRAYER: 

• Was there a time in your prayer that evoked a change in the way you were feeling?
• Were you able to picture the event in your imagination?Did you identify with any particular person in the passage?
• Was there anything in your prayer that touched your heart?
• Can you name the feelings you experienced?
• Did you hear the Spirit, in your mind's ear, speaking to you?
• What areas of your personal life seemed to be coming to mind as you prayed?
• Do you have a desire to return again to this passage and prayer?
• Described what you have learned.
• What questions do you now have following your prayer?

Novena To The Holy Spirit - continues

The text for the novena is posted on the page; Novena to the Holy Spirit.

You may also wish to pray the Chaplet For The Grace Of Renewal, also found on the Pages, side bar.

By virtue of our baptism, each one of us is given a part in the work of the Church, the building up of God's Kingdom on earth. We all have a job to do, and a responsibility to complete the work God has given us. The Spirit gives us the tools we need, and guides us in the ways to best fulfill our calling. Therefore, pray to know your specific task each day. Ask the Holy Spirit for the tools, the gifts you will need - they will be given.

You are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God. You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is fitted together and takes shape as a holy temple in the Lord; in him you are being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22