The message: « The Holy Spirit comes among us », breath of God who created the universe (Gen 1:1-3), Reconciler of us sinners, with God (Rom 8:26), the One who teaches us the truth (Jn 16:13), our Comforter in our afflictions (Jn 14:18), Power of God with which He clothed the believer (Acts 1:8), Perfection of God’s people (1 Thess 5:23). For Jesus says to his disciples: « And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised » Lk 24:49a, that is His gift of the Holy Spirit. What is the foundation of his work? The proclamation of the Gospel of God’s salvation in the name of Jesus Christ, the proclamation of Jesus, the only Name that the Father gave for the salvation of the world (Acts 4:12). For Jesus said to his disciples: »But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth » Acts 1:8. In this regard, Jesus had already said: »When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also
are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning » Jn 15:26-27. Indeed the tasks of a witness are very important: first of all, he informs about what he has seen and passes on the words he has heard. The apostle John, a witness of Jesus, declared: « We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life […] we declare to you […] » 1 Jn.1:1,3a. The second great task of the witness is to justify what he has seen and what he reveals, as Jesus taught: « […] take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses » Mt 18:16. Jesus also said: « The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard » Jn 3:31c-32a. The Holy Spirit sees nothing but Jesus’ glory, His majesty (2 Pet 1:16), and what He reveals is the fulfillment of the Gospel, which is « […] the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith[…] » Rom 1:16a. Therefore, « Receive the Holy Spirit » Jn 20:22.
Monday, 24th [PENTECOST II]: The Holy Spirit comes among us, fulfillment of the promise.
[Note: Pentecost 1 was celebrated yesterday, Sunday.]
« Then afterward, I will pour out my spirit on all flesh » Joel 2:28a.
Reading 1: Jn 16:5-15. Reading 2: Joel 3:1-5. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Joel 3:1.
Introduction: « For no word from God will ever fail » Lk 1:37. Since that day of Pentecost, God has in fact fulfilled His long-held promise to
give His Spirit to all those who repent, those who are determined to change their hearts and their way of living and are truly decided to return
to Him. He gives it freely to those who receive the forgiveness and salvation He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Peter
preached: « Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit » Acts 2:38.
Tuesday, 25th : The Holy Spirit comes among us, establishing the covenant of God.
« I will be their God, and they shall be my people » Jer 31:33b.
Reading 1: 2 Cor 3:1-8. Reading 2: Jer 31:31-36. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jer 31:33.
Introduction: God concluded a new covenant with men, by sacrificing on the cross Jesus Christ, his only Son, for the forgiveness of sins and
for the salvation of all those who believe in Him (Jn 3:16). It is an eternal covenant, and He gives His Holy Spirit as a seal to establish it in the
hearts of all who believe, as it is written: « And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord: my spirit that is upon you, and my
words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your children, or out of the mouths of your
children’s children, says the Lord, from now on and forever » Isa 59:21.
Wednesday, 26th: The Holy Spirit comes among us, to teach obedience to God.
« You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit » Acts 2:38b.
Reading 1: Lk 24:36-49. Reading 2: Acts 2:32-41. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Acts 2:38.
Introduction: The sinful man does not know how to obey the commandments of God, so He gives His Spirit to all those who love Him, so that they do His will, according to the word with which He charged the prophet Ezekiel: « I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my
statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances » Ezek 36:27. Jesus also declared to his disciples who followed Him: « And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth […] » Jn 14:16-17a.
Thursday, 27th: The Holy Spirit comes among us to unite us with God.
« Abide in me as I abide in you » Jn 15:4a.
Reading 1: 2 Cor 5:16-20. Reading 2: Jn 15:1-11. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 15:4.
Introduction: God the Father gives His Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him, so that we can know Him, communicate with Him and do His
work, that is, so that we can come to love Him. Jesus declared: « You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you » Jn 14:17b.
About the communion with the Lord, the Apostle Paul wrote: « But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him » 1 Cor 6:17. And
Jesus says again, about the union with Him: « Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit » Jn 15:5b.
Friday, 28th: The Holy Spirit comes among us to unite us in God.
« No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us » 1 Jn 4:12b.
Reading 1: Ex 29:38-46. Reading 2: 1 Jn 4:9-16. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: 1 Jn 4:12-13.
Introduction: The Holy Spirit of God is the Spirit of love, and He brings forth mutual love in the hearts of those who believe in Him. Luke
reports the unity of heart of the first Christians in these words: « All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain
women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers » Acts 1:14. The apostle Paul also wrote: « For in the one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit » 1 Cor 12:13.
Saturday, 29th: The Holy Spirit comes among us to build up our faith in God.
« Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me » Jn 12:44.
Reading 1: Acts 10:34-45. Reading 2: Jn 12:44-50. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 12:44-45.
Introduction: The Holy Spirit is God’s witness for us to believe in His love for us in Jesus Christ, and to testify boldly about Him. Jesus said:
« When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my
behalf » Jn 15:26. Luke also tells us about the beginning of the ministry of the Apostle Paul in these terms : « So Ananias went and entered the
house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may
regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit » Acts 9:17.
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