The Peace and Power of the Holy Spirit

Prayer-Soldier

The Peace and Power of the Holy Spirit

Scripture:

And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming: and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire: and it sat upon every one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit: and they began to speak with diverse tongues, according as the Holy Spirit gave them to speak.

Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these that speak Galilean? And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.
(Acts 2:1-11)

Wherefore, I give you to understand that no man, speaking by the Spirit of God, says Anathema to Jesus. And no man can say The Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Spirit. Now there are diversities of graces, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministries. but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but the same God, who works all in all. And the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man unto profit.

For as the body is one and has many members; and all the members of the body, whereas they are many, yet are one body: So also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free: and in one Spirit we have all been made to drink.
(1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13)

Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
(John 20:19-23)

Reflection:

Their Master was crucified. They perceived themselves to be targets as followers of the One crucified. Fear was within them as to what would come, but He did not abandon them, even in their moments of doubt. He came to them and showed them the wounds of His hands, His feet, and His side.

And he said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45) As witnesses of the hour past, He now prepared them for the hour to come. And he said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, the third day: And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. And I send the promise of my Father upon you: but stay you in the city till you be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:46-49)

And so they waited, hidden together for the moment of which Jesus spoke; the moment when Jesus would send the promise of His Father upon them; the moment when they would receive the Holy Spirit to remind them of all which Jesus taught and to guide them in truth. (John 14:16-17, 26)

When the moment came, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, who strengthened them and filled them with the truth of God. (cf. John 4:23, 1 John 5:6) As they went forth, the Holy Spirit enabled them to accomplish what Jesus sent them forth to do, to teach and make disciples of all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (cf. Matthew 28:19)

As they went forth, as they spoke, many ears heard and many souls were made glad as they heard the good news of the Lord. Through their obedience to Jesus, through their willingness to speak, through their courage in the face of persecution, the news was spread to the world and many souls were brought to His light, the light which illuminates the path to His kingdom. Blessed are we for what was done generations past, but now the responsibility is ours to enable the generations to come. Let us, then, ask the Holy Spirit to help us to learn so we may teach our children so they may teach their children and the children to come after.

God has given each of us gifts by which we may accomplish the work He has for us, but He has not given all gifts to one person. Alone, we are tempted to believe there is little we can do, but He did not create us to be alone. God did not leave man alone in the garden. He created a woman to be the partner of the man. They were not created the same, they each had different qualities, but together, they were able to accomplish what neither could do alone. Each of us unique, but with different weaknesses and strengths He made us so we might share of what He placed within us such that together, His plan shall prevail over the schemes of the evil one.

As He went to be with the Father, Jesus enabled His disciples through the Holy Spirit. As they observed His death, they doubted in what they could do, but as they saw Him risen and as they received the Holy Spirit, they knew what He had placed within them. Though the world waited to destroy them, they no longer observed as those of the world do. They looked beyond the moment of the world to the eternity of His kingdom. They were blessed to be sent forth to spread the good news that death was conquered and that the gates of heaven were open to all who approached with a contrite heart and a repentant spirit, for the only begotten Son of God, through His sacrifice, assumed upon His shoulders the sins of the world and of all the generations so that we may be forgiven of our sins and cleansed of our iniquities so we may join Him in His kingdom where love is shared by all.

Blessed are we that the few were sent forth to spread the good news to the corners of the world. If we are tempted to believe that we can accomplish nothing for the Lord, let us look to what was accomplished throughout the world by the faithful few. If we doubt our gifts, if we doubt our stamina, if we doubt our strength, if we doubt our courage, if we doubt our wisdom, if we doubt our faith, then, let us pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit so we may go forth with confidence and faith to join the army against which the evil one cannot prevail; the army of love, the army of faith, the army led by the Holy Spirit of God.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways may we seek a relationship with the Holy Spirit?

In what ways do we hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts?

In what ways may we open ourselves to work together to do the will of God?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier