The virginal conception that is even explicitly mentioned by Luke (Lk 1:26-39) is not intended to emphasize the moral superiority of Mary nor, still less, does it constitute a depreciation of sexuality. It is introduced to reveal a fundamental truth for the believer: Jesus is not only a man; he is from above and is the same Lord who has taken on human form.
To sin against the Holy Spirit is to voluntarily close one’s heart and make it impermeable to the action of grace.
There are different ways of praying: verbal prayers, short and lengthy prayers, reading the Bible, praying the Psalms and so on. Even work and suffering can become prayer and bring us to a close relationship with God and fellow man.
Sorrow and loss are inevitable elements of human existence. It is in Christ and by the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit that the dross of life is eliminated. In Christ, every obstacle is surmountable.
Jesus brings us the fire that challenges and purifies. He allows chaos that will lead to spiritual order. The burning away of our iniquities is the only and surest way to resembling Christ as children of the Father.
The most precious Body and Blood of Jesus are a constant reminder of how God draws us to the spiritual through the material. The solemnity of the most holy Body and Blood of Christ exceptionally emphasizes that while the material aspect of life should never control us, we must allow God to direct the use of the material to lead to a stronger spiritual life.
Let this Pentecost remind us that the outpouring of God’s Spirit is essential to humans understanding each other with the mind of God. The breath of the Paraclete is crucial to true contrition and the forgiveness that must follow.
As Christians, we believe that we owe our being to God, who breathes life into us. This breath of life, the Holy Spirit, is integral to our existence and the essence of our prayer life and spiritual growth.
Evil cannot be repaid with evil. It becomes a festering wound that staves off any inkling of peace. Peace requires a process of reflection, forgiveness and complete reliance on the Holy Spirit.