Why can’t that be YOU?….Because you know what? - It can be!…..”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"

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St John Jesus teaching his friends about the Holy Spirit, which as we all know is the third person of the trinity…."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”…..The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, which also means it is at work in us, those who were Baptized…This can not be debated…However, I think what we have to reflect upon is how do we impede the Holy Spirit in our life……I have heard it said….God’s grace is ALWAYS pouring down upon us…The problem is…We “put up an umbrella”, which prevents the grace from penetrating our hearts…..What gets in the way of this grace?…..In a word - Pride… We must strive to “bend our knee” and bend our will to God……and work to remove all impediments (ie sin), which prevents the Holy Spirit from animating our life…This is possible, if we chose to make it possible…..Mother Teresa described this process this way……“The wire is you and me; the current is God,” she said. “We have the power to let the current pass through us, use us, and produce the light of the world—Jesus”……If we are not “plugged in”…..God can not animate our life…..This is why the Sacrament of Reconciliation is vital…..It “removes” all the impediments that get in the way of God working in our life…..Then when we receive the Blessed Sacrament at Mass….which is Jesus himself…The Holy Spirit will find a home in our heart and work in our life……Its really that simple….However, this process can not be self-manufactured…..My bet is - We are not fully convinced - Or maybe better put….We have not fully realized (YET) just how limited our humanity truly is…..And if and when our “eyes open” to this reality - Because it is REALITY…We will set aside our pride and allow God to work in our life…..Jesus tells us in Scripture point blank…. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him”…...These words are very apparent when you encounter a person who is animated by the Holy Spirit….This can be YOU!

"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him”

There is something about a person who is living in the state of grace…I will be very honest with you…You can tell such a person within a few short minutes of talking to them….Their is a light in their eyes….There is “no agenda” detected in their conversation…..Their is a visible transparency about how they live….Even by the way such a person greets you in the morning….Such a person is visibly “different” without even trying to be….This can not be self-manufactured…..And this is what we as Catholics must witness to the world….ALL PEOPLE are looking for this! - Whether they say it out loud or not…….And only God can give this type of life to a person…..Jesus tells us very clearly……”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”…..There are many Catholics on Social Media…And while this communication medium can be used to educate others…It will NEVER convince a person about what it really means to be Catholic….You will NEVER argue anyone into the doors of the Church…However, if you live in a state of grace…And allow the Holy Spirit to animate your life…TRUST ME…People will notice…..And over time this witness will result in the world around you to “think twice” and possibly “second guess” life choices…..This is why when you encounter a holy person, you never forget that person…Holy people exist!….Seek them out….And when you encounter such a person…Think to your self…Why can’t that be me?….Because you know what? - It can be!

"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"

St John reminds us at Mass today of the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to make a “home” within our soul…..This requires effort on our part….We have to “make room” for God in our life and cooperate with him…As we do, little by little, we will begin the process of “emptying our self” of all the “things” that impede God from animating our life…As we do this, a very REAL feeling of freedom will fill us….All people say they “want to be free” - RIGHT? - Yet its their very choices that enslave them more times then not…Humanity has believed the lie of the devil…They “think” that being a practicing Catholic is somehow oppressive…That it “takes away” from experiencing life in its fullness…Nothing could be further from the truth…Jesus said very clearly - Once again - “I have come to give you life and give it abundantly” - That is in the hear and now by the way!……If you somehow don’t believe what I just wrote…...Watch what happens - I will bet you will “by chance” encounter a special person in your life…Could be at work…It could be your neighbor…It could be at the store…And that person you encounter will be “fully alive”, animated by the Holy Spirit….….As you read this, you may even know such a person I am describing…..And when you do encounter this person…You will think to yourself - “There clearly is something about that person that makes them that way”…..That something is God!…Because God is real….Why can’t that be YOU?….Because you know what? - It can be!…..”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"