Call to worship
During these final weeks of the Easter season, the Church invites us to reflect upon God’s gift of the Holy Spirit, who brings us peace, who strengthens our faith and who binds us together in Divine Love.
- To the point: Jesus promises to send us the Holy Spirit who will “teach us everything.” The Holy Spirit does not teach us what to believe, but to believe. To believe means to live out of the divine indwelling, live out of the peace given, live out of the mutual exchange of love between God and us. Believing is living what the Spirit teaches us.
- Connecting the Gospel (John 14:23-29) to the second reading: The second reading describes the heavenly Jerusalem which “gleam(s) with the splendor of God … and the Lamb.” The divine indwelling in us, and our believing make us citizens of this city.
- Connecting the Gospel to experience: Gifts are most often tangible and the most prized ones satisfy our wants and desires. Jesus offers us a gift beyond anything we can imagine or desire—his risen presence as the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. This gift satisfies beyond all human expectations.
Centering prayers
The Gospel
(John 14: 23-29)
And we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
He was so sad. The Risen Lord had to go away from Earth.
Yet he loved them so much
that he could not lose them from his life.
He would place his Spirit deep within them and within us.
O Holy Spirit, teacher of all good, remind us
of what Jesus said and did, and who he is.
Let our hearts be untroubled and fearless as we take
your compassion everywhere it’s needed in our world today:
death row, the unhoused, the climate crisis, Ukraine,
and to everyone suffering from bias.
The First Reading
(Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29)
It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden.
Come, O Holy Spirit.
Lead us to your home, the one within us.
Discern for each of us, as you did for each apostle,
untold truths. Be the fire that never dies,
the wind that lifts us––raising us high,
on wings that set us free.
The Second Reading
(Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23)
The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it.
O Christ, you are the temple.
God’s glory lights your altar.
Make us merely candles, please;
let us glow in this world,
right here, right now,
in the dimness of our day.
Copyright © 2022, Anne M. Osdieck
Music for reflection