Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the 7th week of Easter, June 4, 2025

Delivered by Ariel of the Parish of Saint Albert the Great in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 20: 28-38; Rs psalm 68: 29-30.33-35a.35b-35c; John 17: 11b-19.SHARING THE HOLY SPIRIT Our meditation today is entitled:Sharing The Holy Spirit. The expression of “sharing the Holy Spirit” here is akind of spiritual work to signify that after receiving the outpouring andempowerment of the Holy Spirit, the person who receives it assume the duty toshare the gift of the Holy Spirit to others. He or she shares the Holy Spirit in thescope of the mission entrusted. For example, the parents bring the Holy Spiritinto their family. Father and mother show their mutual and loving kindness oftheir marriage, and therefore, they give positive effect on the whole family.Everyone wants to contribute what is good and positive so that joy and peacegrow in the family. One is a God’s gift to another.  We have an example from the tworeadings today. Jesus strengthened the apostles and disciples, that their liveswithout His physical presence were actually the lives under the guidance of theHoly Spirit. They must had experienced many challenges and difficulties,especially the threat of enemies from various directions. But the fullness ofthe Holy Spirit in Jesus is to be shared among them. Likewise, Saint Paul, whowas going to leave the Ephesian church he had cared for three years. Heguaranteed that the Holy Spirit fully strengthened and guided them. Why should we share the Holy Spirit?There are several importants reasons. First, because God has shared fromHimself. He who is pure and most holy in heaven, wants to share His life withhumans through the Son of God becoming Jesus of Nazareth; then Jesus Himselfsent His Spirit to us. God has shared Himself, then we must also share fromourselves. Second, the Holy Spirit moves andacts. He moved every person in the Early Church and then animated all theiractivities so that they did not stay silent or hid themselves from differentkinds of opposition. Each of them moved and committed in every corner of theworld to testify about Jesus Christ. We also have to do so, especially sharingtestimonies about Jesus Christ to others. Third, the Church is inclusive and sheobeys Jesus' command to make the whole nations His disciples. Thus, there is noother right way except to move every follower of Christ to share the gifts ofthe Holy Spirit, which are to convey all kindness, joy and truth to the wholeworld. Sharing with others in the unity of Jesus Christ is a law that never tobe neglected and not to be undermined. It is basically the responsibility ofevery follower of Chirst as member of the holy Church. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Jesus Christ, in the moments of waiting the coming of the HolySpirit, we put our faith in you with all our hearts, so that through thefullness of the Holy Spirit we share it with those around us. Our Father whoart in heaven ... In the name of the Father ...