Come Holy Spirit Series; The Spirit who dwells within

 Come Holy Spirit Series

Come Holy Spirit:

Come Holy Spirit — The Spirit Who Dwells Within

 Continuing the Journey

As we continue through Eastertide, we are not simply learning about the Holy Spirit — we are learning to live with Him.

We have reflected on:

• the Spirit of Revelation — who opens our eyes
• the Spirit Who Reminds — who brings truth back to our hearts

Now we come to something even more profound:

 The Spirit Who Dwells Within

 

 Scriptural Foundation

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
— 1 Corinthians 3:16

“The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
— Romans 5:5

 

 What Does It Mean That the Spirit Dwells Within Us?

This is not symbolic.

This is not poetic language.

This is real.

The Holy Spirit is not:

• just around us
• just helping us
• just guiding us from a distance

He is:
 within us

To dwell means:

• to remain
• to live
• to make a home

God has not chosen to stay far away.

He has chosen to make His home in us

 

 From External to Internal

Before the Resurrection, the disciples experienced Jesus externally:

• walking with Him
• listening to Him
• watching Him

But after the Resurrection — and through the gift of the Spirit — everything changed.

God was no longer just with them.

 He was now within them

This is the great shift of Eastertide.

And it is the same for us.

 

 How We Experience the Spirit Within

The Spirit who dwells within us is often:

• quiet
• gentle
• easily overlooked

But He is always present.

We experience Him when:

• there is a deep peace beneath everything else
• we are drawn to prayer without force
• we sense a quiet “this is the way”
• love rises in us where it didn’t before
• we feel held, even in difficulty

This is not emotion alone.

This is:
 the presence of God within

 A Personal Reflection

It is easy to live as if God is:

• somewhere “out there”
• something we visit
• someone we reach toward occasionally

But this truth changes everything:

 The Holy Spirit is already within me.

Not waiting to arrive.
Not distant.
Not absent.

Already there.

The question is not:
“Where is God?”

But:
 “Am I aware of Him within me?”

 

 Living With the Indwelling Spirit

This week, the invitation is simple but profound:

 Become aware

• Pause during the day
• Sit in stillness, even briefly
• Notice the quiet presence within

You don’t need to create anything.

You don’t need to strive.

Simply:
 acknowledge

“Holy Spirit, You are here… within me.”

This is where relationship deepens.

 

 Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit,
You who dwell within me.

Help me to become aware of Your presence.

When I feel alone,
remind me that You are here.

When I am restless,
draw me back within.

When I forget,
gently call me back to You.

Make my heart a place where You are welcomed,
not ignored.

Come, Holy Spirit —
teach me to live with You,
not just seek You.
Amen.

 

 For Reflection This Week

• Do I live as though the Holy Spirit is truly within me?
• When do I become most aware of His presence?
• What would change if I remembered this throughout my day?

 

 

Come Holy Spirit

Collect for Third Sunday of Easter Year A

 

COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

 

COLLECT

The Collect for 3^rd Sunday of Eastertide reads as follows:

May Your people exult for ever, O God in renewed youthfulness of spirit,

So that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption,

We may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of Resurrection.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,

Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One, God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 

In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflection questions emerged:

 

1.How will I exult in renewed youthfulness of spirit this coming week?

2. What does it mean to me to exult and praise God?

3. How often each day do I praise and exult God in my prayers and throughout the day?

4.What are the areas of my life that needs to be renewed in youthfulness of spirit?

5.What does it mean me to be an adopted son/daughter of God?

6.Why is the resurrection of Jesus central to my Catholic faith?

7.When I experience difficult seasons or times, how will I live in confident hope this coming week?

 

 

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

 

There are many aspects to the Gospel of the Disciples on the way to Emmaus.

Some of these may be:

• The grief and downheartedness of these disciples and their expectations of Jesus.
• Importance of sharing grief/emotions with others who understand and listen.
• Importance of sharing our life with Jesus- every aspect not just the big things in our lives.
• The role of scripture in our lives- Scripture is God’s love letter to us. How often do we read it and understand it?
• What happens when scripture comes alive in us’ How often can we say’’ did our hearts not burn as He explained the scripture to us?’
• The importance of recognising Jesus as we listen and converse with Him in prayer and also, recognising Him in other people in the circumstances of our lives.

 

If we are to recognise Jesus, we need to spend time with Him  to converse, to listen, to share our lives, hopes, disappointments and daily up and downs.  We need also to spend time to read the scripture- our hearts cant burn within us like the disciples on the road to Emmaus if we do not spend time with Jesus in the scripture. He alone can explain it to us in the best possible way for each of us individually. We too can experience our hearts burning as Jesus speaks to us.

In this time of world uncertainty, we need to re-evaluate our lives on all levels- the physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, social. We need to take stock and  change where necessary our habits, behaviours, attitudes and mindset.  We need to set appropriate goals too so that each day we continue to live in hope in the light of the risen Lord.

 

Remember, regardless of the current world difficulties, the decision to place Jesus no 1 in our lives is a choice- a choice we need to continue to do every day.  However, if we truly love Jesus, then we will want to spend some time with Him every day, we will want to hear Him speak to us and we will want to listen to Him.

 

 

On this third Sunday of Easter when we are reminded of the importance of God’s word for us and recognising Jesus too who also resides in other people, let us recommit ourselves to knowing, loving and serving God this coming week in whatever way we can.  Every task done however small offered to God and done cheerfully can be a gift from us to God, can provide for us more graces we need and ultimately shows our faith in action. We too can be like the disciples from Emmaus, turning back to share the Good News with others of the Risen Lord. We too can experience a watershed moment

 if we are open to God and His grace in our lives.

May our hearts burn within us as we recognise Him this coming week.

 

Alleluia.

 

 

 

 

Praying the Communion Antiphon Series Eastertide: Friday of the Second Week of Easter

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He Is Risen As He Said

 Friday of the Second Week of Easter — Given from Heaven

Communion Antiphon
“Christ our Lord was handed over for our transgressions and was raised again for our justification, alleluia.” (cf. Romans 4:25)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“Handed over… raised again…”

Two movements:

• given
• and raised

 

 Handed over

Not taken.
Not lost.

Given.

There is love here—deliberate, self-giving love.

 

 Raised again

Not the end.
Not defeat.

But:

 new life breaking through

 

And then:

for our justification

This is a big word… but very gentle in meaning.

It means:

• being set right
• being restored
• being brought back into right relationship with God

 

2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 6:1–15) brings us to the feeding of the five thousand.

A large crowd.
A real need.

 

The disciples see:

 not enough
 limitation
what cannot be done

 

Jesus sees:

what can be given

 

A small offering:

• five loaves
• two fish

 

And then:

He takes
He gives thanks
He distributes

And there is more than enough.

 

 3. Holding the Antiphon and Gospel together

The antiphon says:

 He was handed over… He was raised

The Gospel shows:

 He takes what is given… and multiplies it

 

There is a deep connection:

• Christ gives Himself
• and from that self-gift comes abundance

 

4. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

Where do I feel:

• not enough
• limited
• unsure what I can offer

 

Today gently invites:

 What do I have?

Not what I lack.

 

And then:

Can I place this in His hands?

 

Because what we give:

• small
• imperfect
• ordinary

…He can use.

 

 A quiet question

Am I focusing on what I do not have…
or am I willing to offer what I do have?

 

This Communion antiphon flows so gently from the week:

• learning to trust
• learning to receive
• and now…
  learning to offer

 

 5. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You were given for me
and raised to bring me life.

When I feel that what I have is not enough,
help me to place it in Your hands.

Take what I offer today,
however small,
and use it for Your purposes.

Bring forth life where I see only limitation.

Alleluia.

 

 

 

Praying the Communion Antiphon Series Eastertide: Thursday Second Week of Eastertide

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He Is Risen As He Said

 Thursday of the Second Week of Easter — From Above

Communion Antiphon
“The one who comes from above is above all… He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, alleluia.” (cf. John 3:31–32)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“From above… above all…”

There is a contrast here.

• above / below
• heavenly / earthly
• God’s perspective / our limited view

 

 The one who comes from above is above all

This is about who Jesus is.

Not just:

• a teacher
• or a guide

But:

 the one who comes from God
 and sees fully

 

And then:

 He bears witness

He does not guess.
He does not speculate.

He speaks from:

• what He has seen
• what He has heard

 

 2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 3:31–36) continues this unfolding.

John the Baptist speaks about Jesus:

• He must increase
• I must decrease

 

There is a letting go here.

A recognition that:

 this is not about holding on  but about making space

 

Again, we hear:

 the one who believes has life
 the one who rejects remains closed

 

 3. Holding the Antiphon and Gospel together

The antiphon tells us:

 Jesus speaks from above

The Gospel shows:

 we are invited to receive or resist

 

This is not about information.

It is about:

whose voice we trust

 

4. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

So often we live:

• from our own understanding
• from what we see immediately
• from what feels urgent or overwhelming

 

Today invites a gentle shift:

to listen to the One who sees more
to trust a perspective beyond our own

 

This doesn’t mean ignoring life.

It means:

allowing God’s view to shape ours

 

 A quiet question

Am I living only from what I can see and understand…
Am I allowing Christ to lift my vision beyond myself?

 

 5. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You come from above
and see what I cannot.

When I am limited by my own understanding,
teach me to trust Your word.

Help me to listen,
to receive,
and to allow Your truth to shape my life.

Let my heart open to what You reveal,
and lead me into the fullness of life.

Alleluia.

 

 Personal Note: Sorry this is posted late: I have been unwell

Praying the Communion Antiphon Series Eastertide: Wednesday Second Week of Easter

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He Is Risen As He Said

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter — Sent by the Father

Communion Antiphon
“God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him, alleluia.” (John 3:17)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“God did not send his Son… to judge… but to save.”

This is very clear.
And perhaps… very needed.

 

Sometimes we carry an image of God as:

• watching
• measuring
• waiting to correct

But this antiphon speaks differently:

 sent
 not to judge
 but to save

 

This is the heart of the mission.

Not condemnation.
But salvation.

 

 2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 3:16–21) continues the conversation with Nicodemus.

We hear the well-known words:

“God so loved the world…”

 

And then:

 the reason for the coming of the Son

Not:

• to expose
• to condemn
• to reject

But:

 to save

 

And yet…

There is also a tension:

• light has come into the world
• but people sometimes prefer darkness

 

 3. Holding the Antiphon and Gospel together

The antiphon gives us the key:

 the Son is sent for salvation

The Gospel shows:

👉 how we respond to that light

---

This is not about God turning away.

It is about:

👉 whether we are willing to step into the light

 

 4. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

Where might I still be:

• holding back
• hiding something
• staying in what feels familiar, even if it is not life-giving

 

The light is not harsh.

It is not there to expose in order to shame.

It is there to heal

 

The invitation is gentle:

 to step forward
 to allow myself to be seen
 to trust that what is revealed will also be transformed

 

A quiet question

Do I see God as one who judges me…
or as one who is always working to save and restore me?

This Communion antiphon flows beautifully from yesterday:

• Tuesday: look to the One lifted up
• Wednesday: receive the One sent to save

 

 5. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You were sent not to judge
but to save.

When I am tempted to hide or withdraw,
draw me into Your light.

Help me to trust that Your gaze is one of love,
not condemnation.

Let Your light reach every part of my life,
bringing healing, freedom, and new life.

Alleluia.

 

 Personal Note: Sorry this was posted late. I have been unwell.

 

Prayin the Communion Antiphon Series Eastertide: Tuesday Second Week of Easter

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He is Risen As He Said

 Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter — Lifted Up

Communion Antiphon
“The Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life, alleluia.” (cf. John 3:14–15)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“Must be lifted up…”

There is a necessity here.

Not:

• optional
• not accidental

 must

 

And yet…

“lifted up” carries two meanings at once:

• lifted up on the Cross
• lifted up in glory

 

What looked like:

• suffering
• defeat
• ending

…becomes:

 the very place of life

 

 2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 3:7–15) continues Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus.

Nicodemus is still:

• trying to understand
• still thinking in earthly terms

 

Jesus brings him to something deeper:

He recalls the story of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness.

 Those who looked upon it were healed.

 

Now Jesus says:

 “So must the Son of Man be lifted up.”

 

 3. Holding the Antiphon and Gospel together

The antiphon gives us the heart of it:

 “so that everyone who believes… may have eternal life”

 

This is not just about understanding.

It is about:

 looking
 believing
receiving life

 

Nicodemus wants to figure it out.

Jesus invites him to:

 trust what is being revealed

 

 4. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

There are moments when:

• things don’t make sense
• something feels heavy
• something looks like loss

 

And yet today invites us to see differently:

 Could this also be a place where God is working?
 Could what feels like “down” also be “lifted up”?

 

 A very gentle movement

The people in the wilderness were not asked to:

• fix themselves
• solve everything

They were asked:

 to look

 

Perhaps today:

 I am not asked to solve everything t simply to turn my gaze toward Him

 

 A quiet question

Where am I being invited today not to understand fully but to trust and look toward Christ?

 

 This Communion antiphon sits quietly with yesterday…

• Monday:  be born from above
• Tuesday:  look to the One who is lifted up

No rush to grasp it all—just let your gaze rest there

 

 5. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You were lifted up
so that I might have life.

When I struggle to understand,
help me to turn my gaze toward You.

Teach me to trust
even when I cannot see clearly.

Let Your life flow into me
as I look to You in faith.

Alleluia.

 

Personal Note: sorry this has been posted late. I have been unwell.