Category: Bible

Pentecost – our help from above

June 8, 2025

Bible readings: Acts 2:1-11, Romans 8:8-17, John 20:19-23

Today is Pentecost Sunday. It is the day in the church calendar that we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the first believers and the birth of the church. It is a day when we remember the help that comes from above. Today I have three reflections from our readings.

The Holy Spirit comes in power

In Acts chapter one we see Jesus told the disciples to not leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the gift from God that He had told them about. This gift was the Holy Spirit which would give them power to be His witnesses. Fast forward to chapter two and today’s first reading, we see this happens. The Holy Spirit comes in power. In verses 2-5 we read there was a rushing wind and flames of fire, that tongues of fire came upon them, and they spoke in various languages as the Spirit enabled.

This was such a powerful event that people came to see what was happening. They were shocked with what they saw – ordinary men from Galilee speaking in about a dozen languages of the hearers. They were praising God and declaring His wonders for all to hear and understand. They were filled to be the witnesses that Jesus spoke about. Now they had the power to continue His mission of seeking and saving the lost.

True followers of Jesus live by the Spirit

In our second reading we see there are two ways to live this life – by the flesh or by the way of the Spirit. Verses 9-11 encourages us to live by the Spirit and not our natural human nature. It reminds us to not live at the level of our natural fleshly nature that seeks the fleshly comforts of this world like riches, comfort and physical pleasure. God wants us to set our sights higher and seek what the Spirit wants by seeking the Kingdom of God above all else (Matthew 6:33).

Romans 8:11 reminds us that the Spirit that came at Pentecost, and whom lives in all true believers, is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. You and I have resurrection power inside of us! When Jesus returned to His Father in heaven, He did not leave us alone to fumble and stumble through this life. He sent us the Holy Spirit so we could continue His mission of seeking and saving the lost, loving one another and doing good works. He gave us the power to chose life – the Kingdom life that He calls us to live.

We are sent out by Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit

In our last reading from John we see that Jesus sends out His followers. He said, “As the Father sent Me, I am sending you.” This call echoes Jesus last words to His disciples before ascending to heaven in Matthew 28:18-20. It says, “Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, [20] and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

This call to His first disciples is also our call today. In the same way the disciples were called and sent out, so are we. However, we are not sent out alone. Just like the first believers were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and empowered for their mission, so are we. We are filled with the same resurrection power that enabled the disciples to preach and bring thousands in to the Kingdom in one day! Just continue reading on in Acts 2 to read about Peter’s first sermon that was empowered by the Holy Spirit. Three thousand were added to the church from one Holy Spirit empowered sermon. Yes I will admit that Jesus’ call to continue His mission can be daunting, but if we keep focussed on the Kingdom and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, then we have all we need to continue His work.

Closing thoughts

Today as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday I want us to be reminded of these three things. That Jesus did not leave us alone as Holy Spirit came in power, that as true followers we chose to live by the Spirit’s power, and as we do we can fulfil Jesus’ call to make disciples of all nations. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost means we have help from above to continue Jesus’ mission in this world.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Pentecost. Thank You that You sent the Holy Spirit to us as followers of Jesus. Right now Holy Spirit I submit to You. I ask that You will empower me and use me to continue Jesus’ work in this world. Give me confidence and boldness to speak of God’s Kingdom and salvation through Jesus. Please help me to make disciples of all nations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Five things to find in this life

June 2, 2025

I believe there are five things we should try to find in this life. Things which will not only make our lives better, but will make the lives of those around us better too. I think we will also be more fulfilled.

  1. Find Jesus – I honestly believe with all of my heart that we all need to find a personal relationship with Jesus. We all have a God shaped hole inside us and we will not make full sense of this life if we do not include Jesus. As St Augustine said,
    “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you”.
  2. Find your Church – We all need a church home where we can learn about God, share our faith with others believers, serve others in community and receive the Sacraments. God wants us in community to journey together and grow in our faith together.
  3. Find your partner – I believe most people will find a partner to share their life with. Yes some are called to serve as Priests or Nuns and serve the church, but most are called to have a spouse and family. Back in the Garden of Eden, God said it is not good for man to live alone. We need someone to love and support us, and we need to be that for someone else.
  4. Find your Vocation – For me a vocation means more than having a job. It is about finding the thing that God has made you to do. We are all shaped by God with different gifts and talents. He knit us together in our mother’s womb to do certain things. I believe we are most satisfied when we find and do God’s work for us.
  5. Find your devotional style – By this I mean finding the way you connect with God. Some love sitting in church and worshipping God, some find reading and meditating on the Bible hits the spot, some go on prayer walks in nature and feel God’s presence, some pray the Rosary and connect with the Mysteries. It is does not matter what it is as long as you feel connected to God and do it regularly. God wants to be with us daily.

These are some of the things that have helped me in this life. I really do not think my life would be the same without them. Each of them has added to my life in so many ways. I am so thankful to God He has blessed me with these things.

God Bless,

Dave

Saint Benedict

May 7, 2025

I have to admit I did not pay too much attention to the Saints for most of my walk. More recently I have been reading about some of the more famous ones.

Recently I have been looking at St Benedict…

St. Benedict was a 6th-century monk who profoundly shaped Western monasticism and civilization through his Rule, which balanced prayer, work, and community life. Born to a noble Roman family around 480, he abandoned his studies in Rome, disgusted by the city’s corruption, to live as a hermit in Subiaco. His holiness attracted followers, leading him to establish twelve monasteries before founding the great abbey of Monte Cassino, where he wrote his famous Rule. The Rule of St. Benedict, marked by its wisdom, moderation, and flexibility, provided a practical guide for monastic life that spread throughout Europe and remains influential today.

There are quite a few things I find interesting about Benedict.

1. One is that he was born to a family who was well off and he gave it up to follow God.

2. I also admire the way he lived his life drew people to follow him as he followed Jesus.

3. Lastly, he became a hermit in Subiaco. As someone who is introverted being a hermit is quite appealing to me.

Reading about the Saints has been a real blessing to me. They are much like the heroes of faith the Bible mentions in Hebrews 11. Their lives can encourage and inspire us now.

Quote to live by

May 1, 2025

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

Galatians 2:20 NLT – My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 would be the main quote I try to remember and live by each day. It reminds me of three things.

1. It reminds me that my old self is gone, my new life in Christ is here, and that I need to allow Christ to live and love through me.

2. It reminds me of the hope I have in Christ. He is going to prepare a place for me and He is coming back.

3. It reminds me that Jesus did not hold anything back to save me. He gave His life for me. That is how much He loved me.

The same goes for you too. If you are trusting Jesus for your salvation, then your old life is gone and your new life is here. He can live and love others through you.

If you have not trusted Jesus for your salvation, please visit my finding salvation page here.

Bible readings from Pope Francis’ funeral

April 26, 2025

First Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

In those days: Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 

As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all – you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.

He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and caused him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians

Brothers and sisters, our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

When Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ 

He said to him a second time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’

He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.’ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.)

And after saying this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’