Pentecost Sunday 20.5.18 Renewal
Mary leads us in prayer as she led the first disciples.
She was open to the Holy Spirit far more than they were, and
receiving Him already, it was easier for her to help them.
She must have been a great source of strength to them; now,
invisibly she can influence us as well.
We turn to her and ask her - ‘full of grace’ - to send some
of that grace our way.
Grace means the love of God working in us, establishing a
oneness with Him; helping us to correct sinful and false ways, gradually coming
to see things in a different light; then to grow in virtue.
This can work for an individual and for large numbers.
There is enormous untapped potential, so many sleeping
lizards who could be fierce lions.
So much to unlock on our part. She helps to create
atmosphere of expectancy and we join in with that.
We are too easily discouraged, and ease off on the prayer
when we should be intensifying it.
It is all there if we have hands to take it. Between people
not wanting it, and not believing it is there, and not thinking they can have it
- there is a lot of nothing-happening!
As the Church we have to get two things right at the same
time: the internal and the external. Internal – we have to live as one, loving
one another. External - that we can bring those presently outside the Church to
accept the gift of the Holy Spirit, with all that follows from that.
The Holy Spirit can help us on both fronts. Whatever is
wrong can be reversed: Cleanse our
souls from sinful stain, Lave our dryness with Your rain, Heal our wounds and
mend our way. Bend the stubborn heart and will, Melt the frozen, warm the
chill, Guide the steps that go astray.
What is wrong with us? Many will say Nothing, but that is
itself a blindness, caused by sin.
If we compare ourselves with Jesus Christ we will very
quickly find things wrong.
There is always need for improvement; and it is always
possible for everyone to advance from wherever one is on the holiness spectrum.
People operate at a much-reduced level if they do not see
the need to remove sin.
The Holy Spirit, being God, and essentially kind, does not
want to hurt us anymore than necessary. Like a good doctor: this may sting a
little… but then you will be much happier.
A lot of this is just realizing we can be better than up
till now. People sign off too early in the quest for holiness. This is as good as you are going to get -
but they do that too soon.
We can find all sorts of ways of improving, with a little
initiative. Such as less pursuit of pleasure, better reading/viewing habits,
volunteer work, praying more etc etc. Our spiritual sensitivity will increase,
thus leading to deeper contrition, and then stronger virtue.
We just need a bit of a shake-up, like a rushing wind
blowing upon us.
Not everyone has to be doing big things, like the apostles.
Most of it is just attention to daily duty.
We believe that the Holy Spirit can make a difference, and
we pray with more fervour. Any lack of faith or hope on our part is itself part
of the prayer.
Come, Holy Ghost!
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