Acts 14:5-18  “…Men, why are you doing this?  We are of the same nature as you, human beings.  We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God,...”

Psalm 115: 1-2, 3-4, 15-16  “…Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory...”

John 14: 21-26   “…I  have told you this while I am with you.  The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.’”

In today’s first reading from Acts, as I watch the crowd’s reaction to Paul and Barnabas’ healings; I am reminded of a friend’s remarks to me a good thirteen years ago.   At the time, I was searching for a new job, the company I’d worked very hard for, for about 3 and a half years had just become profitable and we were sold to a large telecom, at which point most of us lost our jobs.  I was working part-time for my families’ business, but was very distracted by the rest of the every day search to replace my full time status.   Of course I turned to prayer, and I was going to Mass everyday on my lunch hour, praying that God would direct me to a new job, and possibly to a new career.  I found such comfort in going to Boys Town’s (now called Girls and Boys Town)  Dowd Chapel, the church I’d been attending for the past decade plus; the priest saying Mass was Fr. Peter Dunne (now we call him Monsignor).  It must have been something I said to my friend that revealed something about me that I was unaware of; he asked me if I went to be with Jesus or did I go to be in and among the company, including the priest,  who were at the Mass.  The experience had a lot to do with being at peace; even today, there is something special about Dowd Chapel, the place, the people, and admittedly the priest.  My friend’s questions continues to stick with me today, as I think about the reason I go to Mass out there; I used to live in the area, now I drive out of my way to get there.  My relationship with Jesus has grown over these many years; but still I find today’s message to look at my motivations to be right on point.  May we all look at where we place people who work for God, they deserve our respect for sure; but we must be careful not to place them on the same level with God.

And that is why I find it very interesting that the Gospel reading from John selected to accompany the first reading from Acts, offers a remedy to getting caught up being informed by only our five senses.  Jesus tells the Apostles that he will send the Holy Spirit after He leaves, who will teach them everything and will always remind them of all that He told them.  We are all invited by this reading to foster that relationship with the Holy Spirit, so that we may come to know the Father and the Son better.  In the Cursillo movement (called Christians Encounter Christ, or CEC here in our area), we start many of our gatherings, prayers and talks with the Come Holy Spirit Prayer.  Msgr. Dunne invokes the Spirit before he begins his homilies, and he was instrumental in helping to get the CEC movement off the ground here in Omaha.  This past weekend, someone told me that Blessed Mother Theresa used to invoke the Holy Spirit before her meditative prayer time.  O Lord, help us to invoke your Spirit so that we will grow in our faith.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love.  Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.  O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations.  Through Christ Our Lord…Amen