“And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.” Mark 1: 12-13
Times of wilderness are part of our lives. As they are trying and difficult complaining and growing to be negative is not certainly the answer to such experience of wilderness in one’s life. While that is the case the point is the things we need to do in order to overcome and endure such realities of wilderness.
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
Some years ago a preacher found himself need to fly with his oldest daughter, at that time just four years old, had been visiting her aunt in a nearby city and was quite anxious to fly back to her home with her father. Flying back they encountered a severe thunder storm over mid town. The pilot announced that he was going to take the plane to a higher altitude in order that the plane might fly above the storm. Soon they faced the black clouds and darting lightening in the clouds beneath. Above them the sun was shining in all its glory, though quite hidden from the people in the city below them ....... full story
Listening
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, for a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ ” 1Samuel 3: 3-10............ full story
Jesus’ act of "breathing" on the Apostles, which communicated the Holy Spirit to them, recalls the creation of man, described by Genesis as the communication of the "breath of life" (Gn 2:7). The Holy Spirit is the "breath" as it were of the Risen One, who instills new life in the Church represented by the first disciples. The most obvious sign of a new life is the power to forgive sins. Jesus in fact says: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven" (Jn 20:22-23). Wherever "the Spirit of holiness" (Rom 1:4) is poured out, whatever is opposed to holiness, i.e., sin, is destroyed. According to Jesus’ word, the Holy Spirit is the one who "will convince the world of sin" (Jn 16:8). .......... full story
Listening to the Spirit byJohn Paul II
Listening to what the Spirit is saying to the Church and to the Churches is expressed in acceptance of the charisms which he distributes in abundance. Their rediscovery and appreciation has developed a more intense communion between the various vocations of the People of God, such as a renewed, joyful enthusiasm for evangelization.
Today especially, the Holy Spirit is spurring the Church to promote the vocation and mission of the lay faithful. Their participation and co-responsibility in the life of the Christian community and the many forms of their apostolate and service in society give us reason, at the dawn of the third millennium, to await with hope a mature and fruitful "epiphany" of the laity. A similar expectation concerns the role that woman is called to assume. As in civil society, so in the Church the "feminine genius" is becoming more and more apparent, and it must be increasingly promoted in ways appropriate to the vocation of woman according to God’s plan. full story
