DAILY HOMILIES #holy spirit

If neither you nor anyone listening to you understands what you are saying, you are not “speaking in tongues”, you are not manifesting the presence of the Holy Spirit, you are simply speaking gibberish. St. Paul would say: “If, therefore, the whole church assembles and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?... If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God.” (1 Corinthians 14:23-28).

Avoid using others to judge your progress in life. We are social beings and tend to follow the crowd. Also, we derive a sense of achievement from knowing that we are doing better than others, especially those within our close circle. Even among Jesus’ disciples, there were rivalries – arguments about who was the greatest. (cf. Luke 9:46, Luke 22:24). Peter wanted to know if John would have to carry a heavier cross, but this inquiry was never necessary.

One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is joy. You cannot have the Holy Spirit in you and remain sad and miserable because the Holy Spirit must bear fruit in you. The joy the Holy Spirit gives us remains regardless of whatever trials or tribulations we may encounter in life. Let us pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our lives that he may fill us with supernatural joy and bless us with a kind of peace that this world cannot provide.

Watch out for envy in your heart. Ask yourself: “Are there certain people I don’t like just because they are good at what they do?” Celebrate the gifts of others. Avoid developing hatred for someone simply because they do not attend the same church or hold the same doctrines as you. They may interpret the Bible differently, but this does not necessarily mean your interpretation is superior.

Jesus then lifted his hands to bless the disciples, and as he blessed them, he was carried into heaven before their very eyes. Does it mean that Jesus is no longer with us? Of course, no. By going up to heaven, Jesus did not create a distance between himself and humanity; rather, his Ascension confirms the truth that we all have a final destination that is not here on earth. Jesus is still with us. Jesus is always with us.

We live in a world where it is difficult to find honest people. Never trust anyone who tells lies; they don’t know God. Are you in the habit of telling lies? It is time to ask the Holy Spirit’s help. If someone knows the truth and decides to twist it, that person can efficiently work for the devil. You may have heard the saying: “Say the truth and shame the devil.” Lies glorify the devil because it is his nature to deceive and destroy.

It is easy to think we are alone when bad things happen to us; we find it difficult to pray, let alone sing praises to God. Paul and Silas teach us a vital lesson today – praise God even in bad times. How do we glorify God when it seems He failed to protect us from evil? Remember you are never alone, even when bad things happen. The Holy Spirit is always with you; praise God regardless of your situation.

The Holy Spirit is our Counsellor. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as a Counsellor. The word ‘Counsellor’ can refer to a lawyer who defends a client in trouble or a therapist who advises one experiencing psychological trauma (or other related difficulties). In other words, the Holy Spirit as Counsellor is a solid helper for us as we battle to survive in a world that is not ours.

You will experience true bliss if God makes your heart His home. You will taste the sweetness of heaven even while still on earth, and you will have peace. Rather than spending your energy on fleeting pleasures, turn to God and deepen your love for God. Spend more time in prayer, ask for the Holy Spirit to come into your heart, and you will find peace. He who has God lacks nothing, but He who lacks God lacks everything.

The world hates Christians because it sees a reflection of Christ in them. “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19). The world prefers darkness to light. Evil is always more attractive than good.

While addressing the believers, Peter said: “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas… His office let another take.” (Acts 1:16 & 20). In other words, the office is indispensable, but the office holder can be replaced anytime. No matter the position you occupy, there is someone who can take your place and even do a better job. Please do your best, but take it easy; no matter how good you are, you cannot be there forever. As Matthias was elected to the office once held by Judas Iscariot, all other apostles were eventually replaced by others.

Peter’s experience also reminds us of Jesus’ warning to the Jews: “Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able, from these stones, to raise children to Abraham.” (Matthew 3:9). Let us avoid pride. The fact that someone is not a church member does not mean they don’t have access to God. To successfully convert a person, you must respect and recognise their previous beliefs.