Filling your "tank"

 

We were watching the nightly news and it was so awful I nearly walked away from it. I'm not a "stick your head in the sand" kind of person, but I could barely tolerate it.

Then, when reading the beautiful prayer of Jesus in the Gospel of John (Chapter 17), I was reminded that we have Jesus praying to the Father on our behalf. Just imagine that!

He asks the Father to protect us from evil.

He asks him to let us share his joy, completely.

He consecrates us to truth and consecrates himself for us.

He prays that we "may all be one."

He goes on in this amazing prayer to say that we are the Father's gift to him!

Yes, YOU are a gift to God! 

I started this blog thinking about how important it is that we "feed" ourselves the Good News, and how what we take in impacts what we think about, how we feel, and what we do.

If you find yourself overwhelmed, you might want to turn away--even if for a short time--from whatever is causing you to be full of angst, anger, or sadness, and open yourself up to be filled with the love of the Holy Spirit.

It really is the best thing you can do for yourself today.

Pray for peace and joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

 

An Accounting

It must have been either the longest--or most boring--sermon in history!

In the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 20, beginning with verse 7, we learn of a young man (Eutychus) who fell asleep sitting on a window sill, listening to Paul talk "on and on."

"Overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and when he was picked up, he was dead."

Paul went down and threw himself on him and we learn that when the boy was taken away he was alive.

I hope a homily never has this affect on you!

Anyway, following this we learn that Paul was trying to make his way to Jerusalem so he could be there for Pentecost. One of his stops, though, was in Miletus, where he summoned the presbyters of the church.

Paul cautioned them and revealed to them that they would never see him again. Before he gave his warning to "keep watch" over themselves and their flock, he gave them an accounting of himself. Clearly he had some street cred.

He reminded them that he "served the Lord with humility."

He recalled that he didn't shrink from his message and taught them in public and in their homes.

Earnestly, he told them, he "bore witness" to repentance before God.

And finally, he told them he was warned by the Holy Spirit to act, knowing imprisonment and hardships awaited him.

If you had to give an accounting of your participation in God's "work," what would your list look like? 

I came across this quote by a pastor and author (A.W. Tozer) that gave me pause. I'm not sure if it is true, but it is good food for thought:

"If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference." 

What do you think? Are we engaged with, and motivated by, the Holy Spirit?

Pray for peace and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

 

Get ready for Pentecost!

 

I would like to encourage you to check out this link where you can find a novena (a set of prayers for 9 days) to the Holy Spirit, as we head into Pentecost on May 24, 2026. The Novena has already started but you are not too late!

Pentecost will officially end this beautiful season of Easter.

I have been enjoying this time of focus on joy, which I find both comforting and challenging.

I am including in this post an example of this very short, but beautiful novena, along with the accompanying email you get when you sign up.

Pray for peace and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

Janet - Peace be with you!

Each day of this novena, we will pray for one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

The fruits of the Spirit are, "perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Today's prayers are for Joy.

Joy is one of those signs that shows the world that there is something different about followers of Christ. So, let us pray today for a greater Joy that will shine through to the rest of the world!

You can post your own prayer intentions here. We're praying for you!

Here are the prayers for today:

Day 2 - Novena to the Holy Spirit

(Audio/Video Version)

Joy

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Let us bow down in humility at the power and grandeur of the Holy Spirit. Let us worship the Holy Trinity and give glory today to the Paraclete, our Advocate.

O Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Joy within us.

All of the Saints are marked with an uncompromisable [sic] Joy in times of trial, difficulty and pain. Give us, O Holy Spirit, the Joy that surpasses all understanding that we may live as a witness to Your love and fidelity!

Holy Spirit we ask for the grace of [Mention your intention here].

Amen.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, through Christ Our Lord,

Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.