Pentecost Novena

Pentecost Novena Day 3 - Sunday

Pray: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created,
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of Your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read:
Year A
Acts 1:12-14
1 Peter 4:13-16
John 17:1-11

Year B
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
1 John 4:11-16
John 17:11-19

Year C
Acts 7:55-60
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
John 17:20-26

Be silent

Pray: Father, make us one in the Spirit. As You have forgiven me, may I accept Your grace to forgive immediately all who have sinned against me. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Sunday, May 12, 2013, Ascension, Pentecost Novena - Day 3

Acts 1:1-11, Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23 or, Ephesians 1:17-23, Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9, Luke 24:46-53
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051213.cfm

LOST LOVE OR NEW LOVE?

"He was lifted up before their eyes in a cloud which took Him from their sight." -Acts 1:9

Scripture links "the promise of the Father" (Lk 24:49) to the Ascension of Jesus to the Father (Acts 1:4-5). Just before Jesus ascended to His Father, He told His disciples, "Wait, rather, for the fulfillment of My Father's promise...within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5).

Jesus  promised that we would do greater by far than He did (Jn 14:12). How could this be? Jesus explained that this is because He goes to the Father (Jn 14:12-13). When Jesus goes to the Father, sparks fly, love flies. The Holy Spirit is often defined as the love which arcs between the Father and the Son. Their love cannot be contained, and thus the Spirit arcs wildly between Them. So great is this passionate love that nothing in the universe could possibly hold back the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit descend to us on earth (Eph 4:11). Heaven is now open to us, and we are opened to heaven.

We who are joined with Jesus through Baptism are also lifted up in Spirit and filled with the Spirit, the "promise of the Father." Let Jesus' Ascension result in great love in heaven and immeasurable power and holiness on earth. "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22).

Prayer: Father, on this third day of the Pentecost Novena, make me see the inadequacies of my love for You and make me desire new and greater life and love.

Promise: "I send down upon you the promise of My Father." -Lk 24:49

Praise: "He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit; seen by the angels; preached among the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up into glory" (1 Tm 3:16).