Hearts Filled With the Holy Spirit
"All of us are baptized into the one same spirit" 1 Cor 12:13. The Lord has given us the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enters our hearts and animates us in Christian living. The spirit is our teacher of all truth and the advocate. The spirit intercedes on our behalf and is ever present to help us. We have the Holy Spirit living with us to build us up and sanctify us. Our cooperation with the Holy Spirit assures us the grace necessary to be holy and to live for God.
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa wrote a text called Sober Intoxication of the Spirit. Cantalamessa brings forth the scripture passages that express this sense of intoxication of the Spirit that renew and enliven our minds. The process of conversion depends on the condition of the heart. The soft and ready heart welcomes the warm fire of the Holy Spirit and ignites to live on. His analogy of the fire is beautiful. Cantalamessa writes:
“What has happened to some people is similar to what happens when a fire is lit in a fireplace in a house. At first, the fire moves through materials like paper, straw, and dry twigs. But after this initial flame, either the fire succeeds in enkindling large pieces of wood and lasts until the following morning to warm the whole house, or it does not continue to burn and accomplishes nothing. This latter fire is a "flash in the pan." In the context of spiritual renewal, either the initial flame engulfs the heart and transforms it from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh, or it does not reach the heart but remains on the periphery and soon burns out, leaving no trace of itself."
As we celebrate the feast of Pentecost once again, let us allow the fire of the spirit to consume our hearts. To act therefore, as the Holy Spirit directs, exercising the seven-fold gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord. A heart that surrenders to the Holy Spirit secures fruits that are admirable by all: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
I desire that we all have hearts filled with the Holy Spirit. I desire that we welcome the Holy Spirit as a gift from the Father. I am hopeful that when we allow the Holy Spirit into our lives, we shall transform our community. Today, invite the Holy Spirit into your heart and get out of the way for the fire of God’s love to ignite.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Jesus thy kingdom come! In my heart through Mary! Fr. Gabriel