« Receive the Holy Spirit who saves, gives life, exhorts and establishes the kingdom of God for eternal life ». Indeed, Jesus said, « Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive » Jn 7:38-39. The Holy Spirit works in two essential stages of human life: The first one concerns the category of people who evolve towards the faith, having been strangers to the kingdom of God, but who, once they have believed, were made by Him inheriting children. Here are the works of the Holy Spirit in this case: 1 / He intercedes for the salvation of men because of their weaknesses and asks God for forgiveness
to justify them before Him (Rom 8:26 / 1 Jn 2:2). 2 / He transforms men into new creature (2 Cor 5:17) and gives them birth in the kingdom of God (Jn 3:5) and grants them the right specific to the inheriting children of God (Jn 1:12 / Rom 8:17). 3 / He unites them with Christ who delivered them
from the law of sin and death and gave them the life-giving Spirit for eternal life (Rom 8:1-2 / Jn 3:36). The second stage is dedicated to those who have received the faith and who are led by God to advance and grow in perfection. The works of the Holy Spirit include: 1/ Teaching them the mind and will of God (Jn 14:28) and leading them to the truth (Jn 16:13). 2/ Interceding to save men from their flaws (Rom 8:26). 3 / Exhorting and establishing them as witnesses of the faith (Acts 1:8). 4 /It is the Spirit who works to accomplish the will of God and the ministry that the Lord has appointed to them (Phil 2:13). He truly is the Spirit of achievement, as the Holy Spirit is the thought and power and wisdom of God who is at work
to reveal Jesus Christ the Savior in the first place. Jesus declares: « 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. And « you will receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you » Acts 1:8.
Monday, 29th: The promise of God.
« Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh » Joel 2:28.
Reading 1: Acts 2: 1-4. Reading 2: Joel 2: 28-32. Preaching 1: (Free choice). Preaching 2: Joel 2:28-29.
Introduction: The people of Israel suffered because their land and their crops were destroyed by locusts, as a sign of God’s punishment for their rebellion (Joel 1:1-2:11), so that they may return to God. It is men’s repentance and their getting rid of their usual wickedness which leads God to stop the disaster and to give them a great promise, namely His visitation among them, in order to heal and comfort them, for which reason He sent the Holy Spirit. He declares: « I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people » 2 Cor 6:16.
Monday, 29th: The promise of God.
« Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh » Joel 2:28.
Reading 1: Acts 2: 1-4. Reading 2: Joel 2: 28-32. Preaching 1: (Free choice). Preaching 2: Joel 2:28-29.
Introduction: The people of Israel suffered because their land and their crops were destroyed by locusts, as a sign of God’s punishment for their rebellion (Joel 1:1-2:11), so that they may return to God. It is men’s repentance and their getting rid of their usual wickedness which leads God to stop the disaster and to give them a great promise, namely His visitation among them, in order to heal and comfort them, for which reason He sent the Holy Spirit. He declares: « I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people » 2 Cor 6:16.
Wednesday, 31st: The Holy Spirit invites to come to Jesus.
« No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me » Jn 6:44a.
Reading 1: Heb 3:7-14. Reading 2: Jn 6:44-51. Preaching 1: (Free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 6:44.
Introduction: Jesus said: « Everything that the Father gives me will come to me » Jn 6:37a. The sinful man is not able to recognize Jesus as the Messiah of God unless his eyes of the spirit are opened, so that he may say like Peter: « You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God » Mt 16:16. This was possible through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Thursday, 1st: The Holy Spirit unites us with God.
« Those who abide in me and I in them, will bear much fruit » Jn 15:5b.
Reading 1: Ps 92:5-15. Reading 2: Jn 15:1-11. Preaching 1: (Free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 15:5.
Introduction: The fellowship of the Holy Spirit is the foundation and the fulfilment of God’s saving work for men. Indeed, Jesus declares: « I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and in whom I abide bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing » Jn 15:5. As for the Apostle Paul, he said: « God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord » 1 Cor 1:9.
Friday, 2nd: The Holy Spirit unites the people of God.
« For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body » 1 Cor 12:13a.
Reading 1: Ps 133:1-3. Reading 2: 1 Cor 12:12-20. Preaching 1: (Free choice). Preaching 2: 1 Cor 12:13.
Introduction: The union of all who believe in Him was Jesus’ major prayer to the Father, as He said: « And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one » Jn 17:11. For this very reason, He sent the Holy Spirit who is « the Spirit of God’s love » (Jn 4:16). His commandment says, « I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another » Jn 13:34-35.
Saturday, 3rd: The Holy Spirit seals God’s covenant with His people.
« I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people » Jer 31:33b.
Reading 1: Jn 14:15-17. Reading 2: Jer 31:31-36. Preaching 1: (Free choice). Preaching 2: Jer 31:33.
Introduction: The covenant that God makes with His people promotes joint commitment, common life and common reign and glory, as He emphasizes: « And I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty » 2 Cor 6:18. In order to preserve this, He made a covenant in these terms: « 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.