Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Two

Philip and the Ethiopian.

Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.” Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. This was the scripture passage he was reading:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. In (his) humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth.”

Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him. As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. 

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit.

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 Ethiopian is a seeker. He has the scripture in his hands, seeking to understand its message for him.
• The Spirit has a plan to answer his search. (Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.) 
• Inside each scripture text the voice of the Spirit is speaking to us, showing us how all scripture, when the Spirit is inspiring us, will lead us to Jesus.
• “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?”
• Praying scripture is not scripture study, rather it is listening to the Voice of the Spirit speaking to our hearts. (Were not our hearts burning within us as He opened the scriptures to us!)
• Speak Lord, your servant is listening.

COLLOQUY: Dear Lord ..... (here, I express the thoughts of my heart)

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?

We generally think of Pentecost as that day the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus' disciples gathered in the upper room. But Luke, in his Acts of the Apostles, tells us that, this same outpouring of the Spirit of Pentecost, was experienced by many throughout this whole apostolic  period, as the Spirit worked to bring to life Christ' Church. We might actually sight five Pentecost experiences described by Luke.

1. The day of Pentecost with the disciples in the upper room. (Acts 2:1)
2. The baptism of the Ethiopian by Philip and the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:)
3. The conversion of St Paul. (Acts 9:1)
4. The Gentile Pentecost and the baptism of Cornelius and family. (Acts 10:1)
5. The baptism of the disciples of John the Baptist. (Acts 19:1)

In each of these accounts, we see the effects of the Holy Spirit at work in these people. There is a twofold effect described.

• Conversion and the gift of a living, personal faith in Jesus.
• Gifting and empowering of the soul for a dynamic discipleship in Christ.

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - One

The Promise of the Spirit. Acts Ch 1:1 

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 

While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father  about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.”

I am beginning a series of Posts focused on Pentecost, Acts of the Apostles and Baptism In The Holy Spirit. They will be in two parts: 

1. A guide to praying Scripture and personal reflection.
2. Study notes on various aspects of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

No one can say, "Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit."  
1 Cor. 12:3

These words by St. Paul are key to the approach we will be taking in the Posts that follow. A living vibrant faith is not a product of our own making. It is the result of the Holy Spirit working within us. As a person reads the gospels, they may be drawn to its message, impressed  by the person of Jesus, and agreeing with much of what Jesus is saying. But this is not yet "living faith". When one is drawn to the person of Jesus, with a growing desire to get to know him personally, with a growing affection for his friendship, then we would say that a true, living faith has awakened. 

It's here that we find the Holy Spirit at work in us. The Spirit draws our minds and hearts into a person-to-person communion with Jesus, showing Jesus to us in an intimate way, causing a true and deep affection to grow in us.

As with any friendship that grows deeper, one wants to be where their friend is. Presence becomes a growing desire, to be with, to see and hear their friend. This is where devotion comes into the picture. Devotions are the instruments the soul uses to come together with Jesus. Listen, talking, sharing, asking, affection, are all part of the dynamics of intimacy we know from our human relationships and so they naturally are part of devotion to Jesus. 

In John's gospel there is the account of the disciples encountering the risen Lord by the sea of Tiberias. Jesus draws Peter aside and speaks to him about the important role he is to have in the Community of the Faithful, (the Church),  that is to be leader and teacher; "... feed my lambs, feed my sheep." 

But to establish Peter's readiness for this important role, Jesus does not ask if he understands the theological and philosophical implications of his office, rather, he asks Peter, in a deeply personal and intimate way, "Peter, do you love me?" 

As we begin these meditations, this question, "Do you love me", becomes the question we will address each day.

Do you love me?

EASTER - Part Three

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. Lk 24:13-35

Each time I read this gospel, my heart is replenished with new hope and joyful peace. It is meant for the good of everyone, but I think it speaks in a special way to the heart of a priest. Two of Jesus' disciples and friends, are on the road, leaving Jerusalem with hearts broken and hope shattered, having witnessed passion and death of Jesus. It is all over, finished, ... we had hoped but ... he is gone.

Jesus approaches and joins their journey. If ever one wondered about a divine sense of humor, just look at Jesus' playful smile and tender affection in his voice as he plays the part of one not knowing. 

(So my friends) ... “What are you discussing as you walk along?”

(Cleopus)  “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” 

(Jesus in a voice of pretend curiosity) "What sort of things?" (Were we walking behind, would Jesus not look back at us and wink?)

(Now both are speaking, one reporting while the other adds a commentary of mournful sighs) “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him."
 

(Now reverting to voices of reporters in a tone of bewilderment) But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. (Jesus raises his eyebrows, while hiding his smile, as they continue) Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. (Jesus draws his head back, his eyes widen). Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”

 (Jesus steps forward, turns to face them, and halts their progress) How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 
(They look at Jesus with wrapped attention) Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. (They could not even imagine what they are about to experience next)

And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. (Their hearts now fill with a rainbow of joy filled emotion.) “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” 

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying,

“The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them IN THE BREAKING OF BREAD.

++++++++++++++

One can easily see in this beautiful story, the Eucharist prefigured. 

• Jesus gathering us around him at table. (Table of Word & Table of Eucharist)
• The Spirit teaching us through the scriptures (Liturgy of the Word)
• Jesus true presence recognized in the breaking of bread. (Liturgy of the Eucharist)
• The faithful, nourished and renewed, in Communion with the Body of Christ, going out to announce Jesus Risen, (Our mission to Evangelize) 

Often we find ourselves in a similar state of mind as these two disciples, struggling with the effects of the crosses we are facing. As darkness overtakes our hope, we may start down the road of discouragement, withdrawing from the devotions that brought us close to the Lord. These are the times when we need the Eucharist most. 

• Be faithful to Sunday Eucharist.
• Attend a weekday Mass when possible.
• Ask Cleopus and his company to walk and pray with you.
• Be attentive to the voices of the Liturgy.
• Be expectant, the Lord will draw near.

EASTER - Part Two

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, 

“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Considerations for Your Prayer:

(+) We must not be harsh in judging Thomas for his doubting. After all, in the voice of Thomas, do we not hear the echo of our own voices, with our own doubts. Is he not seeking the same favour the others received when Jesus revealed himself to them?

(+) Is Thomas doubting what they are reporting, ever happened, or is he doubting that such a Jesus, as they describe, could possibly exist at all? What Jesus has become could not have ever entered their minds. This Jesus is the same Jesus they knew, yet now he is an entirely, New Creation, that no one was expecting. As they reach out and touch Jesus here and now, their touch crosses over from the now to eternity. They are the first to know what we all will become. 

(+) The heart of Thomas, together with the others, has just undergone a crushing blow from the hammer of death, wielded by the hand of Satan. Every blow suffer by Jesus, smashed to pieces the infant hope they held in Jesus. Consider your own heart, what blows are you experiencing at this time?

(+) Doubt is the dying lifeblood of hope, draining out of a heart wounded and broken by the power of evil. Risen Saviour, heal our hearts, restore in us the Hope we have lost. Let us hear again your Voice calling:  “Peace be with you.” … “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, … believe (again).”