LISS Day 27

New heart

Psalm 51:10-11 & Romans 5:5 (although I think y'all should read all of Romans 5!) are today's reflections.

For the converted, I ask you, to read more than just these passages. Read 1 John Chapter 4, and the whisper of each word will flood into your new heart and fill it to brimming with the Love of God! As John writes in verse 13, "This is the proof that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us a share in his Spirit." [1 John 4:23]. We know of the perfect Love that John speaks of in this chapter, for through the Spirit, we received it in abundance, and we discovered the Truth that we so ardently believe. He made our hearts new... hearts of flesh, called to Love with as perfect a Love as we possibly can - the Love of sacrifice and selflessness. "My dear friends, let us love one another, since love is from God and everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God." [1 John 4:7] I have never before now, breathed in this book of the Bible. Gosh - I cannot believe the true treasures that the New Testament is filled with!!! I first become captivated by the book of Romans, and now I am filled with the life of this book of 1 John. God is so Good to me! We believe in the Truth that Jesus is the Son of God, and we ought to pray together that our testimony is not from us, but rather from God, whose testimony is infinitely greater than ours. With our new hearts, our selfless love puts God above ourselves. I ask you to pray for me and for one another, that as children of God, our hearts of flesh may never again return to becoming hearts of stone, but remain hearts that beat with life for God in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

For my brothers and sisters who want to open their hearts to receive God in Spirit, we journey with you, with love in our hearts for you. You are always in our prayers, and we pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for your conversion! I share with you my favourite song at the moment as we approach Valentines day. One day, every word of this song will be brought to life within you, and you will realise the tremendous gift of God's Love when He became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, became man, and died to save us from our sin. His sacrificial Love paid the price for our iniquity - is there any greater love than this? Pray with peace and love in your hearts, and He will come upon you! Ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, because she wants you to know her Son, and through her blessed mystery, she will lead you to Him through the Spirit of the Holy Trinity.

God of perfect Love, I thank you with all my body, soul and spirit for the Love you continuously pour out to me in Your Word. As I come to know your Word more over time, grace me with the Love I need to bring others to Your Love. Help me to become more selfless and less selfish and walk with me as I learn to live the word sacrifice. Renew the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your Love... send forth Your Spirit!

LISS Day 24

The Gift of His Spirit

Reflections: Galatians 4:6 & Acts 2:1-4

The Pentecost was Christ's promise to His disciples. Imagine the Love that God the Father had for His children, to send Himself in a third person to remain with the human race from generation to generation. Many things have been said about Pentecost - mainly that we all have the potential to receive the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit as well as the charismatic gifts, and that between Easter and the feast of Pentecost it is a celebratory time in the liturgy - the climax being that Pentecost offers people a taste of Heavenly life.

I'd like to direct people to the EWTN site on Pentecost. Just googling the word Pentecost gives some really weird results. I even spotted a 'How-to' for conversion during Pentecost. Say whaaaaaaat?! A How-To? Is a conversion something that one forces upon oneself, or is it a gift from the Holy Spirit?

I remember the Blessed Virgin Mary, who in purest obedience to God's Will, freely allowed herself to become the intimate spouse of the Holy Spirit. She is a true inspiration. Conceived without original sin, she was never in need of God to transform her in the way that we need God to transform us from inside out! Her spirit was gentle and meek, yet her spirit never broke even when she suffered painfully as her heart (her beloved Son, Jesus) was torn away from her. She remained sinless - despite her extreme sorrow. Our spirits are created to obey the Trinity, and we are encouraged to live that to the fullest. But like Mary, receiving the gift of spirit does not mean that our hearts can not feel torn and ripped out of ourselves, shredded in tormenting pain - for this, our souls (the heart and mind) are what makes us human, together with our physical bodies. Rooted in her love for God, she endures the worst suffering during the Passion - the loss of her Son, who was a precious gift to her from the Father through the Holy Spirit... her spirit truly was one of complete grace. We can imagine how much comfort Jesus gained from her closeness and love, never asking her to stay away even when He knew how painful this was for her too. What was more important to them both was that they were obedient to God's Will. She gives her love to Him still, even after His death on the cross, and the Resurrection.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray. O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.