Anticipate the Holy Spirit (HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 7TH WEEK OF EASTER MAY 2023
HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 7TH WEEK OF EASTER Acts 19:1-8; Ps.68; John 16:29-33 Anticipate the Holy Spirit Today we encounter Paul on his third missionary journey to Ephesus. He encountered some disciples of John who had become disciples of Jesus Christ. These disciples had received the baptism of John but Paul told them that they needed the baptism of Jesus. The baptism of John was that of repentance while that of Jesus was for the reception of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of Jesus does not come as something original which discards the baptism of John as if it were fake; rather John’s baptism necessarily precedes Jesus’ baptism. Both become necessary for salvation. Again, it is not as if the baptism of John was devoid of the action of Christ. No! If it was ever able to wash away sins, it could only have been by the power of God because only God can forgive sins. The lesson here is that we need both repentance and the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Sacrament of Baptism ...