Fr. John's Reflection

This past week, on the Feast of St. James (July 25th) we hear proclaimed the words of        St. Paul (2 Corinth. 4:7-15), Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. In another time of year, we also hear in the prophetic words of Isaiah that the Creator creates us and we know that the Son, Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit recreates us in any area where we find brokenness —        O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands (Ch.63).

We are formed by our Creator, in our mother’s womb in a beautiful way, but as we live in humanity, we develop imperfections. Those who are master potters on this earth, inform us that something of the creator is always left on the imprint of the vessel of creation. We are made in the image of Our Lord. We are formed as human vessels to be filled with grace. In his letters, St. Paul reminds us that as we live in our Lord, God will remain faithful and keep us all firm until the end. Through the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened with His love and in His mission as we journey toward eternal life.

We pray to the Holy Spirit, that we, as earthen vessels of varying types, through the power of God, will be brought to wholeness of life. The Lord repairs our cracks, corrects those painted lines mistakenly made crooked, replaces the chips broken off and fills up all voids. God repairs us to bring us fullness of life.

Prayers to the Holy Spirit for protection, strength, courage, guidance, rebirth, renewal, joy and thanksgiving:

“Spirit of Peace and Love, teach me and protect me while following in Your ways.”

“Dear Spirit of God, give me Your wisdom, Your graces, so that I may be filled up with awe and wonder.”

“Spirit of God, send me the strength and the courage to give witness to Your truth and to defend and protect the weak, the vulnerable and the powerless. Help me to be the voice of the voiceless in all I say and do.”

“Fill me with Your joy even when things are not going that well. Gift me with Your graces so my joy may be complete.”

“Breathe Your Spirit into my heart and soul, O Lord, so my very being may be filled with Your life. Let Your breath be upon me, O Holy Spirit, bring healing and life. Let me breathe in the Breath of God, and breathe out Your goodness.”

“Spirit of All wisdom, reveal what is hidden, clarify that which is confusing.”

”May Your Spirit recreate me in Your Image, O Lord, so I may use Your gifts given to me to do Your work. Recreate my heart directed toward Your Sacred Heart, and renew my world.”
“Thank You, God, for the incredible dignity You have given me by creating me. Allow me to show others respect in the dignity of life bestowed upon them — from the unborn to the elderly as You have left the imprint on each of our vulnerable souls.”

May we trust in Your faithfulness and love. Through Your Spirit, fill our voids and the emptiness of our vessels with the Divine and make us whole again so we can be what we were created to be. For this, we give Glory to God!

Fr. John