One Minute Reflection – 18 May – ‘…Our life in God.’

One Minute Reflection – 18 May – “Mary’s Month” – Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 16:11-15, Psalms 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9, John 15:26–16:4

“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me” ... John 15:26

REFLECTION – “The Spirit promised by the prophets descended upon the Son of God made Son of man (Mt 3:16), accustoming Himself in this way, to dwell alongside Him within the human race, to rest over humankind and reside in God’s workmanship, working the Father’s will in them and renewing them, by causing them to pass from their old way of life to the newness of Christ.

This is the Spirit David requested for the human race, saying:  “And with your guiding Spirit, sustain me” (Ps 51[50]:14 LXX).   This is also the Spirit who, as Luke says, descended upon the disciples after the Ascension on the day of Pentecost, having power to give all nations entrance to life and to open up the New Covenant to them.   Stirred by one feeling, the disciples uttered the praises of God in every language while the Spirit gathered together into unity a dispersed peoples and offered the Father the first-fruits of all nations (Acts 2).

Therefore, the Lord promised to send the Comforter who would bind us to God.    For as a lump of dough and a single loaf cannot be formed of dry wheat without water, neither could we, being many, be made one in Christ Jesus (1 Cor 10:17) without the water come down from heaven.   And as dry earth does not bring forth fruit unless it receive moisture, so we also, who were, to begin with but dry wood, could never have brought forth fruit unto life without generous rain from above.   For our bodies have received the union that leads to incorruptibility by the washing of Baptism but our souls, by means of the Spirit.   That is why both are necessary, since both contribute towards our life in God.” … St Irenaeus (130-202) Bishop, Martyr, Theologian and Father of the Church – Against the heresies III, 17, 1-2

PRAYER – Lord God, You sanctify Your Church in every race and nation by the joy of Your risen Son.   By His life, Death and Resurrection You grant us life and through Your Holy Spirit, You grant us the fruits of faithful love.  May we ever be graced by Your gift of faith and be led to our heavenly Home.   Through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary may we be strengthened for the journey.   We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.