First Reading (Acts 19:1-8)
Reading of the Acts of the Apostles.
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul crossed the mountainous regions and arrived in Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you embraced faith?” They replied, “We haven’t even heard that the Holy Spirit exists!”
Then Paul asked, “What baptism have you received?” They replied, “The baptism of John.” Paul said to them: “John administered a baptism of conversion, telling the people to believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” Having heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them. Then they began to speak in tongues and prophesy. In total, there were about twelve men. Paul then went to the synagogue and, for three months, spoke with all conviction, discussing and trying to convince his listeners about the Kingdom of God.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 16,29-33)
— PROCLAMATION of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, the disciples said to Jesus: “Behold, now you speak clearly and no longer use figures. Now we know that you know everything and that you don’t need anyone to question you. This is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus replied, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming – and it has already come – when you will scatter, each one to his own side, and leave me alone. But I’m not alone; the Father is with me. I have told you these things so that you may have peace in me. In the world, you will have tribulations. But be brave! I have conquered the world!”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My brothers and sisters in Christ, may the peace of the Lord be with you!
Today, I bring you a message of hope and encouragement, based on the sacred Scriptures. I want to establish an immediate connection with the daily experiences of each of you, so that spiritual truths become tangible and applicable in our lives.
How many times have we felt like the disciples in the Gospel of John, when Jesus said to them: “Now do you believe? Behold, the hour is coming, and it has now come, when they will scatter each one to his own house and leave me alone. But I am not alone , for the Father is with me. I told you all this so that you may have peace in me. In this world you will have tribulation, but have courage!
These words resonate in our hearts as we too face tribulations and challenges in our lives. However, Jesus encourages us to have courage and find peace in Him. But how can we find this peace amidst the storms of life? Allow me to tell you a story.
There once was a fearless fisherman named Pedro. He spent entire nights at sea, casting his nets, facing the waves and the uncertainties of fishing. Pedro knew well the tribulations of life, the daily struggles to support his family and the disappointments that accompany hard work.
On a particularly difficult night, Pedro returned from the sea tired and discouraged. He looked at his empty nets and felt the bitterness of defeat. But then, Jesus appeared in his life and said to him: “Cast the nets to one side of the boat and you will find” (John 21:6). Pedro, even though he was suspicious, obeyed and, to his surprise, caught an abundant amount of fish.
This story teaches us that even when we feel tired and discouraged, we can still find hope in Jesus. He calls us to cast our nets of faith and trust, even when everything seems unfavorable. Jesus invites us to overcome our doubts and fears, believing that He is present in our lives and that He can give us strength to face all tribulations.
But how can we find this strength and inner peace? The answer is in today’s first reading, in the Acts of the Apostles. She tells us about the baptism of a group of people in Ephesus. Paul, upon meeting them, asked them: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you embraced faith?” (Acts 19:2). They replied that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit.
Paul then laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They were filled with indescribable joy, and the power of God was manifested in their lives. These new disciples experienced the living presence of the Holy Spirit, who gave them strength and wisdom to face the challenges that lay ahead.
Likewise, we are called to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, to receive the fullness of his gifts. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened in our faith and empowered to face the tribulations of life. The Holy Spirit is the force that guides us, consoles us and enables us to live in accordance with the teachings of Christ.
My beloved brothers and sisters, Jesus’ invitation to have courage and find peace in Him is a current reality in our lives. Just as Peter found hope amid empty nets, and the Ephesian disciples experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, so too can we find strength and peace in our lives.
Today, I invite each of you to open your hearts to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I invite you to seek a personal relationship with Christ, to cast your nets of faith and trust even when everything seems unfavorable. I invite you to receive the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that we may be strengthened in our faith and enabled to face the tribulations of life.
But let’s not stop there. Finding peace in Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit is just the beginning. We need to take these spiritual truths beyond the walls of this church and apply them to our everyday lives. We need to be living witnesses of God’s love and grace in our relationships, in our work and in all areas of our lives.
Imagine what it would be like if each of us, guided by the Holy Spirit, became a shining light amidst the darkness of the world. If we let God’s love flow through us, touching the lives of those we meet on our path. If we became agents of transformation, promoting justice, compassion and forgiveness in everything we do.
My brothers and sisters, transformation begins with us. And today’s message is a call to action. It is an invitation for each of us to reflect on how we can apply the lessons from these biblical passages in our daily lives. How can we find courage and peace in Christ? How can we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide us in every decision and action we take?
Let’s take a moment of silence now so that we can individually reflect on these questions and make a personal commitment to God.
Dear Heavenly Father, in this moment of silence, we open our hearts to You. We ask that You strengthen us in our faith, that You fill us with Your Holy Spirit and that You enable us to live according to Your teachings. Help us to find courage and peace amid the tribulations of life, so that we can be living witnesses of Your love and Your grace. In the name of Jesus, amen.
My beloved brothers and sisters, let us leave here today with a new spiritual fervor. Let us remember the story of Peter and the disciples of Ephesus. Let us remember that we can find hope amid empty nets and experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And, above all, let us remember that Jesus overcame the world and that in Him we find peace.
May the grace of the Lord be with us, strengthening us on our journey of faith. May the Holy Spirit guide us in every step we take. And may we be living witnesses of divine love and hope in everything we do.
So be it. Amen.
