(Part 2)
Pentecost Sunday
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John 20: 19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors
were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he
had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced
when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As
the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he
breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins
you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
Introductory Prayer: Today, Lord, we celebrate the gift of your Holy Spirit to the
Church, which you won for us through your patient suffering on the cross. I
believe and trust in his power to make me a better apostle of your Kingdom,
to bring fervor where I have grown tepid, to instill detachment where I have
become too indulgent, and to perfect the innocence of my baptism, which
leaves my soul more pure and worthy to serve and honor you each day.
Petition: Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart with your grace and enkindle
in me the fire of your love.
1. The Doors Were Locked: What
is it that makes a disciple of Christ stop cold in the path of conversion and
commitment? Cloaked underneath our spiritual inertia and lack of zeal are not
so much our personal defects or our lack of human virtue as blindness to the
dynamic power of the Crucified and Risen Lord. We can leave our self-made
prisons only by opening our hearts to a faith in Christ that is total: total
trust (in spite of the confusion of the present and uncertainty of the
future), total hope (by breaking away from having to see the ideal in
ourselves before we will act), and total divine confidence (in setting aside
the sins of others and our personal failures that keep us stuck in myopic
visions of life). Christ comes through bolted doors again today to ask us to
unlock them with a real experience of the Risen Lord in the power of the
Spirit.
2. Peace Be With You: It is vital to
examine our “peace” and see if it truly speaks of the peace of the Upper
Room. Substitute “satisfaction” for the word “peace,” and see where our hearts
have tried to find consolation this past week. Then substitute the word
“fulfillment.” This is the peace that Christ brings through the gifts of the
Holy Spirit. Some passing satisfactions are part of life, and we can be
grateful for them. When we seek them for their own sake, however, we can
easily drown out the life of the Spirit, who comes to bring us deep peace and
fulfillment in life. Pentecost must convince us above all about prayer and
the order of life that permit us to have constant contact with sources of
grace and divine inspiration.
3. Receive the Holy Spirit: In the sacrament of penance, we are forgiven our sins
through the action of the Holy Spirit, who makes the actions of Christ
present through the priest. We believe that mercy founds hope and change in
our soul. Why, then, do we not believe that this same grace from the Holy
Spirit can make us heroic saints, victorious in trial, patient in difficult
relationships and more effective as apostles? Christ assures us that his
power will never leave us, so we have no reason to “slip into neutral” after
a few bad incidents in our life. Rather, the Holy Spirit’s goal moves us from
mercy to transformation into Christ, permitting us spiritually to carry and
reveal his wounds to an unbelieving world.
Conversation with Christ: Oh,
Jesus, I will trust more in the power of your Holy Spirit to change me than
in my own efforts. I will depend on you in that face-to-face encounter I need
to have with you every day. Let the sources of divine grace become my true
food, and may I move away from feeding my soul on passing pleasures and vain
ambitions.
Resolution: This week, I will write down daily all the lights and
inspirations of the Holy Spirit I receive, and I will try to act on them with
promptness, confidence and generosity.
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SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST, SUNDAY, JUNE 8, JOHN
20:19-23
(Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13)
(Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13)
KEY VERSE: He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (v 22).
READING: On the fiftieth day after Passover, the Jews celebrated Shavuot, the feast of the "first fruits" of the harvest, and to commemorate the giving of the Torah on Sinai. The Christian feast of Pentecost, which occurs 50 days after Easter, marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples (Acts 2:1-4). In John's Gospel, the resurrection, ascension and the descent of the Spirit occurred on the same Easter Sunday. It is most likely that the disciples were gathered in the upper room where the Last Supper had been held. But they were fearful that the emissaries of the Sanhedrin would come to arrest them. Upon seeing the Risen Lord, the disciples were overjoyed. Just as the breath of God created Adam, the first human being (Gn 2:7), Jesus breathed forth the Spirit creating the new people of God, the Church. Empowered by the Spirit, Jesus' disciples were sent forth to bring peace through the reconciliation of sinners. The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when he sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength so sorely needed by every Christian.
REFLECTING: In what ways has the Holy Spirit empowered my life?
PRAYING: Holy Spirit, help me to bring peace and forgiveness to others.
The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost is called the birthday of the universal Church. Through the Spirit the Church realizes her call to preach the Gospel of Christ to the whole world. The Feast of Pentecost brings the Easter Season to a close.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
The Passive Way
The passive way—I abandon myself to it, not in a multiplicity of
trials, extraordinary penances accomplished, practices of great works—but in
peaceful abandonment to the tenderness of Jesus, which I must try to imitate,
and by being in constant union with His meek and humble heart. -St.
Katharine Drexel
Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth
Celebrating the feast of Pentecost, we ponder gifts of the Spirit. ‘There are many different gifts’, says Paul, ‘but always it is the same Spirit. There are many different forms of activity but it is the same God at work in them all.’ Looking at humankind’s achievements, we marvel at the ingenuity of the human mind. We recognise many beliefs, so many ways of living and are humbled by our singular place in it all. Travelling to places of different cultures we still see the work of the Spirit, inspiring growth and goodness. We pray that in time we will see that everything has a place in this magnificent creation, that nothing is excluded, and that we need only accept the tilt and sway of life, knowing that true balance will be achieved in the workings of the Spirit.
June
8
St. William of York
(d. 1154)
St. William of York
(d. 1154)
A disputed election as archbishop of York and a mysterious death.
Those are the headlines from the tragic life of today's saint.
Born into
a powerful family in 12th-century England, William seemed destined for great
things. His uncle was next in line for the English throne—though a nasty
dynastic struggle complicated things. William himself faced an internal Church
feud.
Despite
these roadblocks, he was nominated as archbishop of York in 1140. Local
clergymen were less enthusiastic, however, and the archbishop of Canterbury
refused to consecrate William. Three years later a neighboring bishop performed
the consecration, but it lacked the approval of Pope Innocent II, whose
successors likewise withheld approval. William was deposed, and a new election
was ordered.
It was
not until 1154—14 years after he was first nominated—that William became
archbishop of York. When he entered the city that spring after years of exile,
he received an enthusiastic welcome. Within two months he was dead, probably
from poisoning. His administrative assistant was a suspect, though no formal
ruling was ever made.
Despite
all that happened to him, William did not show resentment toward his opponents.
Following his death, many miracles were attributed to him. He was canonized 73
years later.
LECTIO DIVINA:
PENTECOST SUNDAY (A)
Lectio:
Sunday, June 8, 2014
The Mission of the Community
“Peace be with you!”
John 20, 19-23
“Peace be with you!”
John 20, 19-23
1.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, send your
Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them
to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the
Bible, you helped them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events
of your sentence and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all
hope became for them the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. READING
a) A key to the reading:
The disciples were gathered together, and the doors were well
closed. They were afraid of the Jews.
All of a sudden, Jesus stood in their midst and said: “Peace be with you!” After showing them the hands and his side, once again he said: “Peace be with you”! As the Father has sent me, I also send you!” And immediately he gave them the gift of the Spirit so that they could forgive sins and reconcile persons among themselves and with God. To reconcile and to construct peace! Behold this is the mission which they received and which endures up until today!
Humanity is lacking peace more and more: to put together the pieces of a disintegrated life, to reconstruct human relationships, broken because of the injustices committed and because of so many other reasons. Jesus insists on peace, and he repeats it several times! During the reading of the brief text of the Gospel of this Pentecost Sunday, we try to be attentive to the attitudes of Jesus as well as to those of the disciples, and to the words of Jesus which he pronounces with such solemnity.
All of a sudden, Jesus stood in their midst and said: “Peace be with you!” After showing them the hands and his side, once again he said: “Peace be with you”! As the Father has sent me, I also send you!” And immediately he gave them the gift of the Spirit so that they could forgive sins and reconcile persons among themselves and with God. To reconcile and to construct peace! Behold this is the mission which they received and which endures up until today!
Humanity is lacking peace more and more: to put together the pieces of a disintegrated life, to reconstruct human relationships, broken because of the injustices committed and because of so many other reasons. Jesus insists on peace, and he repeats it several times! During the reading of the brief text of the Gospel of this Pentecost Sunday, we try to be attentive to the attitudes of Jesus as well as to those of the disciples, and to the words of Jesus which he pronounces with such solemnity.
b) A division of the text to help the reading:
John 20, 19-20: The description of the experience of the
Resurrection
John 20, 21: the sending out: “As the Father has sent me, I also send you”
John 20, 22: The gift of the Spirit
John 20, 23: The power to forgive sins
John 20, 21: the sending out: “As the Father has sent me, I also send you”
John 20, 22: The gift of the Spirit
John 20, 23: The power to forgive sins
c) The Text:
19 In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week,
the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the
Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,' 20
and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples
were filled with joy at seeing the Lord, 21 and he said to them again, 'Peace
be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.' 22 After saying this
he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive
anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are
retained.
3.
A MOMENT OF PRAYERFUL SILENCE
so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
4.
SOME QUESTIONS
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) What struck you most in the description of the experience of
the Resurrection?
b) Which are the characteristics of the Mission which the disciples receive?
c) Which are the characteristics of the action of the Holy Spirit which Jesus communicates to us?
d) How important is all this for the life of our community today?
e) Jesus insists: “Peace be with you!” Which steps should I take to reconstruct the peace and the broken relationships among persons?
b) Which are the characteristics of the Mission which the disciples receive?
c) Which are the characteristics of the action of the Holy Spirit which Jesus communicates to us?
d) How important is all this for the life of our community today?
e) Jesus insists: “Peace be with you!” Which steps should I take to reconstruct the peace and the broken relationships among persons?
5.
FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE TO DEEPEN MORE ON THIS THEME
a) The context in which the Gospel of John was written:
The text of the Gospel of John is like a very beautiful fabric,
made with three threads of different colours. The three threads are so well
combined with one another that it is not always possible to see when one passes
from one thread to the other. (i) The first thread are the facts of the life of
Jesus, which took place in the year thirty in Palestine, preserved in the
memory of the Beloved Disciple and of many other witnesses (I Jn 1, 1-4). (ii)
The second thread are the facts of the life of the communities. Because of
their faith in Jesus and convinced of his presence, in their midst, the
communities enlightened their life with the Word and the gestures of Jesus.
That influenced the description of the facts. For example, the conflicts of the
communities with the Pharisees towards the end of the first century indicate
the way in which are described the conflicts of Jesus with the Pharisees. (iii)
The third thread are the comments made by the Evangelist. In certain passages,
it can hardly be perceived when Jesus finishes speaking and the redactor begins
to knit in his own comments. (Jn 2, 22; 3, 16-21; 7, 39; 12, 37-43; 20, 30-31).
b) Comment on the Text:
John 20, 19-20: A description of the experience of the
Resurrection
Jesus becomes present in the community. Not even the closed doors prevent him from being in the midst of those who do not recognize him. Even today, it is the same thing! When we are gathered together, even if all the doors are closed, Jesus is in our midst! And also today, the first word of Jesus, will always be: “Peace be with you!”
He shows the signs of the Passion on his hands and his side. The Risen Lord is the Crucified Lord! The Jesus who is with us in the community is not a glorious Jesus who had nothing in common with the life of the people. But it is the same Jesus who came on this earth and who bears the signs of his Passion. And today these same signs are found in the suffering of the people. They are the signs of hunger, of torture, of wars, of sickness, of violence, of injustice. So many signs! And in the persons who react and struggle for life, Jesus resurrects and makes himself present in our midst.
Jesus becomes present in the community. Not even the closed doors prevent him from being in the midst of those who do not recognize him. Even today, it is the same thing! When we are gathered together, even if all the doors are closed, Jesus is in our midst! And also today, the first word of Jesus, will always be: “Peace be with you!”
He shows the signs of the Passion on his hands and his side. The Risen Lord is the Crucified Lord! The Jesus who is with us in the community is not a glorious Jesus who had nothing in common with the life of the people. But it is the same Jesus who came on this earth and who bears the signs of his Passion. And today these same signs are found in the suffering of the people. They are the signs of hunger, of torture, of wars, of sickness, of violence, of injustice. So many signs! And in the persons who react and struggle for life, Jesus resurrects and makes himself present in our midst.
John 20, 21: The sending out: “As the Father has sent
me, I also send you!”
From this Crucified and Risen Jesus we receive the mission, the same one that He received from the Father. And for us also he repeats: “Peace be with you!” The repetition confirms the importance of peace. To construct peace forms part of the mission. The Peace which Jesus gives us means much more than the absence of war. It signifies to construct a human, harmonious environment, in which persons can be themselves, with all that is necessary to live, and where they can live happy and in peace. In one word, it means to construct a community according to the community of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
From this Crucified and Risen Jesus we receive the mission, the same one that He received from the Father. And for us also he repeats: “Peace be with you!” The repetition confirms the importance of peace. To construct peace forms part of the mission. The Peace which Jesus gives us means much more than the absence of war. It signifies to construct a human, harmonious environment, in which persons can be themselves, with all that is necessary to live, and where they can live happy and in peace. In one word, it means to construct a community according to the community of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
John 20.22: Jesus gives the gift of the Spirit
Jesus breathed and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit”. And therefore, it is with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can carry out the mission which He entrusts to us. In the Gospel of John, the Resurrection (Passover) and the effusion of the Spirit (Pentecost) are one same thing. All takes place in the same moment.
Jesus breathed and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit”. And therefore, it is with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can carry out the mission which He entrusts to us. In the Gospel of John, the Resurrection (Passover) and the effusion of the Spirit (Pentecost) are one same thing. All takes place in the same moment.
John 20, 23: Jesus gives the power to forgive sins
The central point of the mission of peace is found in reconciliation, in the effort to overcome the barriers which separate us: “to those to whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven and to those to whom you do not forgive them, will not be forgiven”. Then this power of reconciliation and of forgiving is given to the disciples. In the Gospel of Matthew, this same power is also given to Peter (Mt 16,19) and to the communities (Mt 18, 18). A community without pardon and without reconciliation is not a Christian community.
The central point of the mission of peace is found in reconciliation, in the effort to overcome the barriers which separate us: “to those to whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven and to those to whom you do not forgive them, will not be forgiven”. Then this power of reconciliation and of forgiving is given to the disciples. In the Gospel of Matthew, this same power is also given to Peter (Mt 16,19) and to the communities (Mt 18, 18). A community without pardon and without reconciliation is not a Christian community.
c) To deepen more:
i) The action of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John
In Hebrew the same word is used to say wind and spirit. The
wind has in itself a goal, a direction: North wind, South wind. The same for
the Spirit of God (the wind of God) has in itself a goal, a project, which
manifests itself in many ways in the works which the Spirit of God fulfils in
creation, in history, and above all, in Jesus. The great promise of the Spirit
becomes present in the prophets: the sight of the dry bones which
become alive, thanks to the force of the Spirit of God (Ez 37, 1-14); the
effusion of the Spirit of God on all people (Gl 3, 1-5); the vision of the
Messiah the Servant who will be anointed by the Spirit to re-establish the
right on earth and to proclaim the Good News to the poor (Is 11, 1-9; 42, 1;
44, 1-3; 61, 1-3). The prophets foresee a future in which the People of God is
reborn thanks to the effusion of the Spirit (Ez 36, 26-27; Ps 51, 12: cf. Is
32, 15-20).
In the Gospel of John these prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. As it happened in creation (Gen 1, 1), in the same way the Spirit appears and descends on Jesus “under the form of a dove form heaven” (Jn 1, 32), It is the beginning of the new creation! Jesus pronounces the words of God and communicates to us the Spirit in abundance (Jn 3, 34). His words are Spirit and life (Jn 6, 63). When Jesus leaves, he says that he will send another consoler, another defender whom he will leave with us. It is the Holy Spirit (Jn 14, 16-17). By his passion, death and resurrection, Jesus wins for us the gift of the Spirit. When he appears to the Apostles, he breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (Jn 20, 22). The first effect of the action of the Holy Spirit in us is reconciliation: “to those to whom you remit sins, they will be remitted and to those to whom you do not remit them, they will not be remitted!” (Jn 20, 23). Through Baptism we all receive this same Spirit of Jesus (Jn 1, 33). The Spirit is like the water which springs from within the person who believes in Jesus (Jn 7, 37-39; 4, 14). The Spirit is given to us to be able to remember and understand the full significance of the Words of Jesus (Jn 14, 26; 16, 12-13). Animated by the Spirit of Jesus we can adore God every where (Jn 4, 23-24). Here the liberty of the Spirit is lived. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”, Saint Paul confirms it ( 2 Cor 3, 17).
In the Gospel of John these prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. As it happened in creation (Gen 1, 1), in the same way the Spirit appears and descends on Jesus “under the form of a dove form heaven” (Jn 1, 32), It is the beginning of the new creation! Jesus pronounces the words of God and communicates to us the Spirit in abundance (Jn 3, 34). His words are Spirit and life (Jn 6, 63). When Jesus leaves, he says that he will send another consoler, another defender whom he will leave with us. It is the Holy Spirit (Jn 14, 16-17). By his passion, death and resurrection, Jesus wins for us the gift of the Spirit. When he appears to the Apostles, he breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (Jn 20, 22). The first effect of the action of the Holy Spirit in us is reconciliation: “to those to whom you remit sins, they will be remitted and to those to whom you do not remit them, they will not be remitted!” (Jn 20, 23). Through Baptism we all receive this same Spirit of Jesus (Jn 1, 33). The Spirit is like the water which springs from within the person who believes in Jesus (Jn 7, 37-39; 4, 14). The Spirit is given to us to be able to remember and understand the full significance of the Words of Jesus (Jn 14, 26; 16, 12-13). Animated by the Spirit of Jesus we can adore God every where (Jn 4, 23-24). Here the liberty of the Spirit is lived. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”, Saint Paul confirms it ( 2 Cor 3, 17).
ii) Shalom: the construction of peace
In the Gospel of John, the first encounter between the Risen
Jesus and his disciples is marked by a greeting: “Peace be with you!” The peace
which Jesus gives us is different from the Pax Romana, constructed by the Roman
Empire (Jn 14, 27). Peace in the Bible (shalom), is a word rich
with a deep significance. It means integrity of the persons before God and
others. It means also a full life, happy, abundant (Jn 10, 10). Peace is the
sign of the presence of God, because our God is a God of Peace “Yahweh is
Peace” (Jer 6, 24). “May the Peace of God be with you!” (Rom 15, 33). This is
the reason why the peace of God produces violent reactions. As the Psalm says:
“Too long have I lived among people who hate peace. When I speak of peace they
are all for war!” (Ps 120, 6-7). The peace which Jesus gives us is the sign of
a “sword” (Mt 10, 34). It is necessary to have trust, to struggle, to work, to
persevere in the Spirit in order that the peace of God may triumph one day. And
that day “love and truth will meet, justice and peace will embrace” (Ps 85,
11). And then, “The Kingdom of God will be justice, peace and joy, and these
will be the fruits of the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14, 17) and “God will be all in
all” (I Co 15, 28).
6.
PSALM 145
Description of the Kingdom of God
I shall praise you to the heights,
God my King, I shall bless your name for ever and ever.
Day after day I shall bless you,
I shall praise your name for ever and ever.
Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise,
his greatness beyond all reckoning.
Each age will praise your deeds to the next,
proclaiming your mighty works.
Your renown is the splendour of your glory,
I will ponder the story of your wonders.
They will speak of your awesome power,
and I shall recount your greatness.
They will bring out the memory of your great generosity,
and joyfully acclaim your saving justice.
Yahweh is tenderness and pity,
slow to anger, full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all,
his tenderness embraces all his creatures.
All your creatures shall thank you, Yahweh,
and your faithful shall bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingship
and tell of your might,
making known your mighty deeds to the children of Adam,
the glory and majesty of your kingship.
Your kingship is a kingship for ever,
your reign lasts from age to age.
Yahweh is trustworthy in all his words,
and upright in all his deeds.
Yahweh supports all who stumble,
lifts up those who are bowed down.
All look to you in hope and
you feed them with the food of the season.
And, with generous hand,
you satisfy the desires of every living creature.
Upright in all that he does,
Yahweh acts only in faithful love.
He is close to all who call upon him,
all who call on him from the heart.
He fulfils the desires of all who fear him,
he hears their cry and he saves them.
Yahweh guards all who love him,
but all the wicked he destroys.
My mouth shall always praise Yahweh,
let every creature bless his holy name for ever and ever.
God my King, I shall bless your name for ever and ever.
Day after day I shall bless you,
I shall praise your name for ever and ever.
Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise,
his greatness beyond all reckoning.
Each age will praise your deeds to the next,
proclaiming your mighty works.
Your renown is the splendour of your glory,
I will ponder the story of your wonders.
They will speak of your awesome power,
and I shall recount your greatness.
They will bring out the memory of your great generosity,
and joyfully acclaim your saving justice.
Yahweh is tenderness and pity,
slow to anger, full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all,
his tenderness embraces all his creatures.
All your creatures shall thank you, Yahweh,
and your faithful shall bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingship
and tell of your might,
making known your mighty deeds to the children of Adam,
the glory and majesty of your kingship.
Your kingship is a kingship for ever,
your reign lasts from age to age.
Yahweh is trustworthy in all his words,
and upright in all his deeds.
Yahweh supports all who stumble,
lifts up those who are bowed down.
All look to you in hope and
you feed them with the food of the season.
And, with generous hand,
you satisfy the desires of every living creature.
Upright in all that he does,
Yahweh acts only in faithful love.
He is close to all who call upon him,
all who call on him from the heart.
He fulfils the desires of all who fear him,
he hears their cry and he saves them.
Yahweh guards all who love him,
but all the wicked he destroys.
My mouth shall always praise Yahweh,
let every creature bless his holy name for ever and ever.
7.
FINAL PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to
understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions
and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us.
May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practise the Word.
You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever
and ever. Amen.
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