LIFT OFF
"Wait, rather, for the fulfillment of My Father's promise." -Acts 1:4
We have been in intense prayer for eighty days - forty days of Lent and forty days of Easter. Today we reach the feast of the Ascension, the beginning of the grand finale of the Easter season.
Two days ago, we began a Holy Spirit novena, nine days of prayer for a new Pentecost in our day. Our prayer will be answered as the Spirit will be lavished on us (Ti 3:6) without ration (Jn 3:34). Then we will have the power to be Jesus' witnesses right where we are and even to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). In the power of the Holy Spirit, we will make disciples of all nations by baptizing them and teaching them to obey all Jesus commanded (Mt 28:19-20).
On this feast of the Ascension, we begin the countdown to a new Pentecost. Celebrate this feast with your whole heart. Don't just sandwich a quick Mass into the midst of a busy day. Make this a holy day - a day especially set apart for God. Plan for the Holy Spirit novena. Cancel or postpone whatever you can in this week before Pentecost. Give yourself more time to give God prime time.
Go into the upper room with Mary and all the saints. Wait there for the fulfillment of our Father's promise, for "within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5).
Father, may I thirst for the Spirit more than for anything else (see Jn 7:37).
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ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus fill me completely with your Holy Spirit that I may overflow with your abundant love. Seal me with this same Spirit and anoint me so that, guided with His power, I may aspire today to that which you have purposed for me. I pray that this day I will walk with you as your child in making decisions after your Heart. I pray for uprightness in my relationships with you and others. Father grant me the grace to work with you in bringing into right order my emotions and passions. And give me strength to follow through with firm purpose the plans you lay before me, even in the face of difficulty and trial. Finally, Father, fill me with gifts from on high – holy fear of offending you, true piety, in my relationships godly fortitude, docility to godly counsel, knowledge to conduct my life aright, understanding and perspective of the way things fit together and wisdom to guide my thoughts, words and conduct. I pray that you bring me more into the likeness of your Son, Christ Jesus in all things through the power of the Holy Spirit. All this I ask in the Name of Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
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