Day 3 – The Spirit leads us closer to the Father and Jesus

Transform & Empower - Pentecost Online Retreat

Just as Jesus was sent by God the Father with a mission to enter into humanity by becoming human Himself, to dwell among us and to relate personally to us, the Holy Spirit was sent by God the Father and God the Son to enter into our lives by dwelling within us and working through us. While the Spirit manifests Himself very differently than Jesus, His presence does not eclipse the role of the Father and of the Son in our lives. In fact, very much the opposite, He leads us closer to the Father and the Son. In a nutshell, the Spirit is commissioned to convict us, confirm us, and conform us to God. Let us elaborate more on each of these.

When the Holy Spirit is active in our lives, one of the first things He does is to awaken us from our unbelief and convict us in regard to sin (cf. John 16:8).

The goal is not to leave us in despair and hopelessness, but rather, to convince us that we need a Saviour and we have hope. Jesus is the Lord and Saviour of our lives. When the Spirit comes and fills us, immediately things like scales will fall from our eyes. The Spirit reveals to us the true motives and the effects of our sins.

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our perception of Jesus changes. He is no longer a historical figure from 2000 years ago who left us nothing but moral rules and boundaries. Our personal encounters with Jesus allow us to experience Him as the true Saviour and Lord who is alive and active in our lives today. ‘No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit’ (1 Cor 12: 3)

The Spirit then confirms us as beloved children of God through adoption into the family of God; “and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

That means whatever belongs to God and to Christ belongs to us! Unbelievable and unthinkable! If this does not wow you, think again! ‘When we cry, “Abba! Father!”, it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.’ (Roman 8:15-16)

Yet, when we call “our Father” every time we say the Lord’s Prayer, this relationship with our Heavenly Father is oftentimes based on a vague image of this Heavenly Father, or on an intellectual understanding of Him. And this relationship is normally affected by our relationship with our earthly father, which, for some of us, might be unaffectionate and distant in nature. Past wounds and the secular culture of transaction-based love relationships may prompt us to believe that we need to earn the Father’s love, which is against God’s compassionate nature, and that contributes to our inability to relate to God as a good Father. However, when the Holy Spirit is active in our lives, we very often experience an overwhelming sense of God’s love for us, surpassing anything that we can ever earn or deserve. The power of the Father’s love can fill any void which was a result of love deprivation in our own lives, making us whole again.

Lastly, the Spirit conforms us into the image of God, teaches us how to behave and lead a righteous life. He empowers us to conform our way of living to that of Jesus, who is a perfect image of God. The Spirit supplies us with everything we need to live a more abundant life (cf. John 10:10) as Christ’s followers towards holiness.

REFLECTION

What is your image of the Heavenly Father? Is He a loving Father or an unapproachable figure? Can you feel the love of the Father in your heart, or is it more head knowledge?

How has your relationship with your earthly father affected how you see your Heavenly Father?

TODAY’S PRAYER

Come, Holy Spirit! Dwell in me and transform me! I know You desire to guide me to form an intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father and Jesus and it is Your will for me to experience the realness and power of God. Yet, I am weak and I need your help. Open my eyes to see clearly, and my ears to listen attentively to Your holy prompt. I place my trust in You. I give You the permission to mold me and transform me into the image and likeness of God. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.

My beloved child, please know that I am here for you, I am never beyond reach. My love for you is gentle as a dove. Never stay away from me, as I never for you. With your permission, I will do everything I can to lead you closer to me, to Jesus, and to the Father. Thank you for placing your complete trust in me. I love you always!

Novena to the Holy Spirit:

Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice. I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Day Three Needing the Spirit “Peace” Galatians 5:22-25:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions & desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

Meditation:

This is the time for my spirit to touch the Spirit of God. I know that the feeling of the Spirit –touch is more important than all the sensations of material things. I must seek a silence in which my spirit can receive and become aware of the touch of the Spirit of God. Just a moment’s contact and all the fever of life leaves me. Then I am well, whole, calm, and able to rise and minister to others. God’s touch is a potent healer. I must feel that touch and sense God’s presence.

Prayer of the Day:

Blessed Jesus, please give to me stillness of soul and let your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me Lord of gentleness, Lord of peace. Give me great power of self-control over my words, thoughts and actions. From all irritability, want of meekness, want of kindness; deliver me, dear Lord. Amen

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into heaven, did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the...