Daily Reflection – 5/7/2024
Sacred Scripture
But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.( John 16:5-11)
Reflection
Have you ever thought about how our life is filled with good-byes?
It begins in our earliest years as we pass from one threshold of age to another. In each threshold, there is a good-bye to someone or something. As we grow older the good-byes multiply to people, places, milestones, things. Admittedly, it is true that most good-byes are followed by a “hello” to another person, place or event. But saying good-bye is always difficult.
The Apostles knew about saying good-bye. They had already said good-bye to their former lives to follow Jesus. So, their hearts are filled with the sadness each of us has known when we say good-bye permanently. But our good Lord knows their hearts and in this Gospel passage, he not only reassures them of not being alone but also lets them know why they are receiving this gift.
I sometimes think we don’t truly appreciate and recognize what it is that Jesus is saying here. It was necessary that Jesus leave, because He wanted to send us something very special. Now just think about that for a second. Why couldn’t Jesus have simply remained with us, and sent the Holy Spirit? Why was it necessary for Him to leave for the Holy Spirit to come? How on earth is this a better outcome? The answer is Pentecost.
The Holy Spirit is sent to complete God’s work in us. While Jesus takes on human flesh and becomes one of us, the Holy Spirit enters into humanity to become one in us. I think it is worthy of silent reflection to bask in the awe that God has united Himself to us in this way. We have the Holy Spirit in us, and He shares with us His gifts, His power, His life! No longer are we children of darkness and sin, but the Holy Spirit has transformed us into children of God. There is a profound realization in the belief that the Holy Spirit is within each of us. What is that realization?
Our life are not defined by our weaknesses, our failures, our sins, our fears. Instead, our life is defined by His love and our measure of that is living up to the love He has for us.
Each of us is a temple of the Lord because God, through the Holy Spirit, resides in us.
I pray earnestly that each of you takes that into your heart and begins to live each day free of anxieties, free of thoughts regarding what you could have/should have done. Live knowing His love of you and let that be THE definition of your life!
When Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to come and burn the hearts of His early disciples so that they may all remain united to Him and the Father, so that they may be one with Him in both spirit and in truth, He had in His heart the intentions of every person of all generations. He had all of us in His heart so that we may be filled by His presence, so that we may have Him always despite all that may come to separate us from Him.
Jesus’ love for us is constant and His kindness endures forever.
Prayer of The Day
“Come Holy Spirit, and let the fire of your love burn in my heart. Let me desire only what is pure, lovely, holy and good and in accord with the will of God and give me the courage to put away all that is not pleasing in your sight.”
Daily Note
Saying goodbye permanently to a loved one or a friend is always a heart wrenching experience. We may even wish that there would be no more goodbyes anymore. But the reality of life is that we shall say goodbye permanently someday whether we like it or not, we shall say goodbye on a time that God has willed for us. But let us not allow our goodbye be a forgetful experience by not doing something indelible in the lives of our fellowmen. As we live in this world let us do something good that will remain forever in the minds of those who know us. So that when our time to say goodbye comes, our beautiful deeds will forever be imprinted in the hearts of those who know us.
