Sunday Gospel Reflection
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
John 16:12-15 | June 12, 2022
The Work of the Holy Spirit
by Josie Gonzales
“I have much more to tell you, but now it would be too much for you to bear. When…the Spirit comes…he will lead you into all the truth. He will give me glory because he will take what I say and tell it to you. All that my Father has is mine; that is why I said he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”
As Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit descended into the world to continue Jesus’ work among His apostles and disciples. He promised to send the Spirit to guide us, comfort us, and protect us from all harm and danger. The Holy Spirit is with us 24/7 if we seek His intercession, if we pray and meditate in a peaceful quiet place, if we open our heart, mind and soul as we listen to His sanctifying voice telling us to repent and ask forgiveness for our sins.
He is the giver of graces, inspiring us believers to have faith and trust in the Lord as He leads us to the Father and the Son.
Our Heavenly Father gave us the Holy Spirit so we may find peace in the noise and chaos of this world; so we may experience joy amid our brokenness, love and patience and kindness instead of hatred and anger; so we may enjoy the Spirit’s gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord, as we pray to receive them.
Are we even aware of these divine gifts? Alam ba natin na biyaya ito para pagtibayin ang ating pananampalataya at tiwala sa Panginoon? Para maramdaman natin na hindi tayo nag-iisa as we fight the ‘evil one’ day in and day out?
Let’s feel the Spirit’s presence today and every day…pagnilayan natin ito.
The Gospel today tells us that everything that the Spirit does is from the Father and the Son. This is the Mystery of the Holy Trinity—three persons in One God and is best explained by my priest counselor/confidante in our sharing on the mystery where he says, “Each is distinct from the other but One! The Father, the Creator; the Son, the Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier. One of the mysteries of our faith!” Yes, today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. At sa pagdasal natin sa araw-araw, tandaan natin na nagdadasal tayo sa Diyos Ama, kay Hesukristo, at sa Banal na Espiritu.
When I was a child and in my growing up years, I always prayed to God the Father. I pictured Him as the whole universe, way up there in the skies, that great power in outer space, where I would imagine the heavens opening and seeing Him in his glorious state—clothed in a white robe with long hair and a white beard. And, looking at Him from that great distance meant peace and joy and that one day I would be up there with Him.
Then, school introduced me to Jesus, our Saviour. From Him I learned that He had to suffer and die for our sins. Siya si Hesukristong nagkatawang tao para makilala natin sa ating sariling kaanyuan—human flesh and blood since man’s nature is to see with the eye.
Ipinamalas sa atin ni Hesus ang kahulugan ng pagmamahal sa Panginoon at sa kapwa. He is the Divine Healer and the Great Provider. Ang Salita ng Diyos ang kanyang bukang bibig.
The Good News is Jesus Christ Himself. Have we ever asked ourselves what this means? Are we aware of the Good News of Salvation? Saan ba tayo nakatuon? Dito sa mundong ginagalawan natin? O sa buhay na walang hanggan? Magnilay-nilay tayo.
When Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit came down to guide us.
I have called on the Spirit a million times and felt His presence as often. I always pray to Him before I start my Gospel reflections and everything just flows perfectly. I thank Him in bad times, when I ask for strength to cope with crippling situations; in good times, when blessings are terrific answers to what I ask for. And yet, we don’t really have to ask…think about it…
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit never left us. The ‘One God’ is ever-present in our life. We just need to surrender to the Almighty completely and let go.
This is a work in progress in my life…
Believe me.
