Come Holy Spirit Series
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Come Holy Spirit |
Come Holy Spirit: Walking with Jesus in
Ordinary Time
13th
Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
The
Holy Spirit Strengthens Us to Put Christ First
Introduction
As
we continue our journey through Ordinary Time, we begin asking a new question:
What
is the Holy Spirit doing in this Sunday's Gospel?
The
Holy Spirit always leads us to Jesus. He helps us understand Christ's words,
live Christ's teachings, and follow Christ more faithfully in our daily lives.
This
Sunday's Gospel contains some challenging words from Jesus. He speaks about
priorities, discipleship, and what it means to truly follow Him. At first
glance, His words may seem demanding. Yet hidden within them is a beautiful
invitation to place Christ at the centre of our lives.
The
Holy Spirit is present in this Gospel as the One who strengthens us to say
"yes" to that invitation.
The Gospel
"Whoever
does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his
life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
—
Matthew 10:38-39
What Is the Holy Spirit Doing in This Gospel?
The
Holy Spirit is helping us to put Christ first.
Throughout
our lives we face many competing priorities:
- family
- work
- responsibilities
- ambitions
- comforts
- fears
None
of these things are necessarily bad. In fact, many are blessings from God. Jesus
reminds us that He must remain at the centre of everything.This is not because
He seeks control over us. Rather, it is because He knows that only when He is
first can everything else find its proper place.
The
Holy Spirit gently reveals where our hearts may have become divided. He shows
us the areas where we are holding back, where fear is stronger than trust, or
where comfort has become more important than discipleship.
At
the same time, the Spirit gives us the courage to follow Jesus more
wholeheartedly. We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us to access the gift of
courage He gave us at confirmation. The gift has not gone away but sometimes we
do not access the gifts.
The
disciples themselves could not have lived this Gospel by their own strength. When
the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, it was the Holy Spirit who transformed
fearful followers into courageous witnesses. The same Spirit works within us
today.
Walking with Jesus This Week
Most
of us will never be asked to carry a dramatic cross.
Instead,
our crosses are often found in ordinary places:
- remaining
faithful when life is difficult
- forgiving
someone who has hurt us
- choosing
patience over anger
- serving
others when it would be easier not to
- trusting
God when we do not understand
The
Holy Spirit helps us carry these daily crosses.
He
reminds us that discipleship is not about losing our lives in a negative sense.
Rather, it is about discovering the life God created us to live.
Every
time we choose Christ over selfishness, love over resentment, trust over fear,
we take another step in following Him.
This
week, perhaps we might ask ourselves:
What
is one area of my life where the Holy Spirit is inviting me to put Christ
first?
For Reflection This Week
- What
place does Jesus currently hold in my life?
- Is there
an area where I am finding it difficult to trust Him?
- How
might the Holy Spirit be inviting me to put Christ first this week?
Come
Holy Spirit. Open our hearts to hear Your voice and give us the courage to
follow wherever Christ leads.
Prayer
Come,
Holy Spirit.
Strengthen
my heart to follow Jesus faithfully.
Help
me to place Christ at the centre of my life.
When
I am afraid, give me courage.
When I am uncertain, give me trust.
When I am tempted to choose comfort over discipleship, remind me of Your
presence.
Teach
me to carry my daily crosses with love and hope.
May
I discover the true life that Jesus promises to those who follow Him.
Come,
Holy Spirit.
Lead me ever closer to Christ.
Amen.
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