May 8, 2012 – Acts 14:23 – The Return to Antioch in Syria

Father Glenn McDonald talked about the journey of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch in planting seeds, i.e., spreading the good news. The reading highlights that it is through prayer and fasting that we can cultivate detachment from material wealth and entrust the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. When we die, we cannot take our wealth in another world but leave it on earth. We need to be generous and give others a share of our material possessions and use our gifts of talents to make our lives more meaningful and productive.  

May 7, 2012 – John 14:23-26 - The Promise of the Holy Spirit

In his homily, Fr. Michael Busch narrates his conversation with children about their opinion as to which part of the body is the most important. The children pointed out the lungs which helps in breathing, the heart which pumps blood to our body, and the brain which commands all the parts of the body on what to do. However, one child, who had an incident with a sick relative, explained that the most important part of the body is the tube that runs from our soul to an almighty power, which makes us courageous because of its connection to God. People have different fears like fear of losing job and family while others are fearless. Children have three categories of fear – fear of falling, fear of loud noise and fear of abandonment. Adults can deal with fear of falling and loud noise but not the fear of abandonment. People do not want to be overlooked, unappreciated, taken for granted, used or abused. Some people who have everything in life such as cars, houses, and good jobs are disconnected or blocked with their soul because they feel emptiness and think there is no reason for living. God will never forget us because we are His children. He sends us the Holy Spirit to counsel us in life, give us peace, and new direction for living. During fearful times, the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith to Jesus. The power of successful living is with God and the Holy Spirit, like the central nervous system, act as the connector and integrator of our soul. God gives us confidence to make good decision and help us lose the fear of abandonment. We need to find the tube, the Holy Spirit, which gives us the flow to God, who is the key to unlock our anxieties and fear.