Then I invited the people in RCIA to pray in silence for receiving the Holy Spirit’s gifts, particularly asking to pray what gift they were in most need now. With the prayerful music, everyone prayed to receive the Holy Spirit. And I passed the basket that contained the gifts of the Holy Spirit, asking to randomly pick up one gift. With some excitements and worries, everyone picked up the one and read it. At that very moment, suddenly I felt the strong presence of the Holy Spirit in the room because the faces of the people seemed to glow with smiles and tears. I picked up one as well that deeply struck me because I just asked the Holy Sprit to give me the same gift that I believed I needed the most.
Receive the Holy Spirit. So I will do the same thing with you that I did in RCIA. We all pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit now with the prayerful music. And then I will pass the baskets of the gifts that you are to randomly pick up one.
(The music is on while the congregation prays with the priest in silence. And then ushers pass the baskets from the front pews. Waiting for everyone to have the gift, the priest walks down to hear from the congregation.)
Questions:
Is there anyone who is struck by the gift you have received? Why?
How do you see the active presence of the Holy Spirit in your life?
What would you do something differently, concretely after receiving the Holy Spirit?
(Because Jesus says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”)
It is important to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit as we strive to live the Christian life in the world where materialism, secularism and individualism are dominant. We need to discern the Spirit everyday not to lose our sight fixed on God not on the worldly things.
In order to do that, I always value the fruits of the Holy Spirit as the sign of the good spiritual life moving toward God not moving away from God. So St. Paul urges, “My brothers and sisters, live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh because the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies and the like. I warn you that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
We have received the Holy Spirit. Be still now, looking at your heart that wants the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. And the Good News is that God has already planted the seed of the good fruits in you. What you all need to do is to recognize it and nurture it.
Receive the Holy Spirit that will transform you now and forever as the fire of the Holy Spirit did to the disciples on the first Pentecost!