Daily Reflection for Monday, May 18, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051820.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Acts 16:11-15
Responsorial: Psalm 149:1-6, 9
Gospel: John 15:26-16:4
Our reflection on Monday’s reading:
“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.
And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27
As I ponder the readings for the last several weeks, I see the Holy Spirit working through the disciples to evangelize Christ to the Jews and Gentiles alike. Perhaps, because I am currently experiencing a viral pandemic, what strikes me is the viral nature of church growth at that time. The leverage that the twelve disciples experienced was a phenomenon that has rarely, if ever, been repeated since the formation of the early Church. I would go out on a limb and say that even the world pandemics that have occurred since the start of the early church while killing millions of people world-wide were less viral than the event that formed the early church.
What keeps our Church alive and vibrant today? My belief is that it is the same as the early Church. Develop a relationship with Jesus. Receive the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Spirit of truth that fans the sparks of faith into a raging fire. Pass on that raging fire of faith to others through some form of evangelization.
I attended a funeral this past week. At this funeral, it was very clear to me how the Church continues to stay vibrant and relevant. We were in a cemetery, properly social distanced with masks, etc. but the pastor asked for a simple show of hands of those who felt that Jim had witnessed the love of Christ to them personally. Terri & I were two of nearly 100 people that raised hands. Jim was one of those individuals that did not have to tell you he was a Christian. You knew it from his actions and the way he lived his life.
Sharing the love of Christ with others is infectious and can lead to others doing the same. It is our responsibility to propagate the faith. Help the Church “go viral.” Testify to the love of Christ in your life through you actions and deeds today.
May the power of the Holy Spirit be with you today.
Paul Gunn