COLLECT: “GRANT, O MERCIFUL GOD, THAT WE MAY EXPERIENCE AT ALL TIMES THE FRUIT PRODUCED BY THE PASCHAL OBSERVANCES. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Acts 16:11-15; Ps 149:1-6,9 and Jn 15:26-16:4a.
Today, Jesus warns the apostles that persecution is coming. However, he promises he will send an Advocate “when their hour comes”. The same Advocate will remind them of all they have heard. This is evident as Paul, in the first reading, approaches a women’s prayer group at Philippi and opens their hearts to pay attention and understand what Paul says.
The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, a Counsellor, an Encourager and a Helper that Jesus promises. He strengthens and as the Spirit of Truth, He teaches believers the truth, inspires and reminds them of the words and works of Jesus Christ. Believers who give the Holy Spirit a chance in their lives and cooperate with Him, will always be led by Him to carry out marvellous and wonderful works. This happened in the life of Paul and his companions. In the first place, the Spirit led Paul and Silas to approach the women's prayer group in Philippi to preach to them. Secondly, the same Spirit opened the heart of Lydia to what Paul preached to the group and eventually she and her household were baptised.
We cannot downplay the important role of women's groups/societies in the Church in particular, and in society in general. Just like this Philippian women's group that opened the way for ministry and evangelisation in that region, and even during the early years of Christianity, women generously worked in diverse ways to either directly spread the Good News, or support evangelizers to propagate the word of God. God through the Holy Spirit continues to work through our women and their associations to build the Church. Even now, in our era, women are more in our churches and when we talk about the involvement and contributions toward the growth and development of the church, as well as support for the spread of the Good News, women should be commended laudably. Though the work of evangelisation is not easy, because sometimes those involved and their associates, suffer all sorts of things or go through persecution, the Holy Spirit will always give them courage, patience, strength and inspiration to endeavour and persevere. We cannot overemphasise the significant and invaluable role women (good mothers) play in the family. A big ‘Thank you’ to all women. Stay blessed.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, MONDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “LOOK WITH KINDNESS UPON YOUR PEOPLE, O LORD, AND GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT THOSE YOU WERE PLEASED TO RENEW BY ETERNAL MYSTERIES MAY ATTAIN IN THEIR FLESH THE INCORRUPTIBLE GLORY OF THE RESURRECTION. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.”
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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