Just breathe…

-


The experience of struggling for breath is frightening. Be it caused by sickness, respiratory problems, anxiety, panic attacks or changes in altitude, when it happens, there is an overwhelming sense of gasping for that single breath of life. Something we take for granted, to breathe…yet when it’s removed from us or impeded, we see that it is literally a matter of life or death. We try to calm down by focusing on our breathing or others may encourage us by simply saying: ‘Breathe.’  We inhale, we exhale…life continues.

Today we celebrate the great birthday of the Church, the Solemnity of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit, the powerful Breath of God, his Ruah, descends upon each one of us, the Church, the world, to ‘renew the face of the earth.’  Without the Spirit, our life as disciples would be life-less, lacking energy and struggling to breath.

Just as we watch and are attentive to our physical breath, so too must we have that same attentiveness to our spiritual breathing.  So how do we invite the Spirit of Life into our lives? How do we allow God’s Ruah to transform us? We invite Him in prayer, even with a simple prayer like: “Come Holy Spirit, I need You.” The Scriptures promise us that the Spirit comes to assist us in our weakness and helps us cry out ‘Abba Father’ (Romans 8:26). To acknowledge our need of the Holy Spirit is to align ourselves to the gifts and fruits which we received when we were confirmed.  The day of our Confirmation marks a huge milestone in our life as disciples because, empowered by the Spirit of God, we are sent out in the name of Jesus to be bearers of the Gospel message, to be witnesses. However, this is not easy so we pray: 

Breathe in me Spirit, when I struggle and gasp to understand God’s plan for me at this time.

Breathe in me Spirit, when the chaos and confusion surrounds and disorientates me.

Breathe in me Spirit, when boldness is needed to speak the truth in love, when I need to have courageous conversations with those I live with and minister with.  

Breathe in me Spirit, when the air around is stagnant with lies, deceit, false information, fake news and empty promises.

Breathe in me Spirit. simply so I can breathe, with Jesus, live for the Father and just breathe.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Just to say 'thank you' (Sr. Louise's words of thanksgiving for the celebration of her Perpetual Profession)

-
Image
When I look at the mosaic of my life and all the people who compose it. God’s hand gathering lives of colour to form a masterpiece, a body, cell by cell.  Tiny little pieces put together colour by colour and forging something unforgettable, something that fits perfectly into the master plan, God’s handiwork where his grace allowed our paths to meet in life. Reflecting back upon the years of my life, I have found that the pieces fit perfectly, not always by my doing and not always by my understanding. Happiness and pain fitting together because one can’t know one without the other.  The ups and downs, the ins and outs, all mean there is a perfect balance somewhere and we spend our waking hours searching for it, knowing that we are restless until we rest in God. Each one of you here today would merit a personal ‘thank you’ : by your presence, your accompaniment, you remind me that this vocation is not my vocation but a vocation for the Church, for the world, for each of you! Everyon
Read more

Holy Hour of Thanksgiving for our Silver Jubilee of presence in Dublin.

-
Image
The following is a guided holy hour prepared in occasion of our silver jubilee of presence in Dublin, celebrated this year. The Holy Hour follows the method of prayer given to our Pauline Family by Blessed James Alberione- to honour Jesus as Way, Truth and Life. Song: Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You, I want to see You (x2) To see You high and lifted up, shining in the light of Your glory Pour out Your power and love, as we sing holy, holy, holy Guide: We pray before Jesus as we behold the mystery of the God who became flesh out of love for us. We gather here to pray and spend time wi th the Lord, in silence, in prayer and in song . Each of us have a different story but tonight Jesus has united us in mind and in heart just as He did with the early Christian communities. In   Acts of the Apostles we read: ‘they were all of one mind and one body’. This evening we let our hearts enter into communion with the Lord Jesus and with our brothers and sisters. Let us op
Read more

The Icon of Friendship

-
Image
Icon of Friendship Last week I received a beautiful surprise parcel in the post containing an icon and a book. Those who know me know that this almost equates to being Christmas for me: books and icons, both on my list of 10 favourite things! The icon was one I had actually never seen before and was a gift from Taize, a copy of the Coptic icon which belonged to Brother Roger Schultz, the former prior there. The original icon dates from seventh century Eygpt and is usually referred to as “Christ with the believer” but is just as frequently referred to as “the icon of friendship”. Although simple in its presentation, it is nevertheless a sophisticated image. Jesus is shown putting His arm around the shoulder of a friend; this man is called Menas, but he represents each one of us. Jesus does not face Menas, rather He stands alongside him; He accompanies him, sharing in the burdens of life. In His left arm Jesus holds the Scriptures, God’s word. The word tells the story of the love b
Read more