Did not our hearts burn while he opened to us the Scriptures

Why was it difficult for the disciples to recognize the risen Lord? Jesus' death scattered his disciples and shattered their hopes and dreams. They had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. They saw the cross as defeat and could not comprehend the empty tomb until the Lord Jesus appeared to them and gave them understanding.

Do you doubt the good news that Jesus rose to give you new life?

Jesus chided the disciples on the road to Emmaus for their slowness of heart to believe what the Scriptures had said concerning the Messiah. They did not recognize the risen Jesus until he had broken bread with them. Do you recognize the Lord in his word and in the breaking of the bread?

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) reflects on the dimness of their perception:

"They were so disturbed when they saw him hanging on the cross that they forgot his teaching, did not look for his resurrection, and failed to keep his promises in mind" (Sermon 235.1).

"Their eyes were obstructed, that they should not recognize him until the breaking of the bread. And thus, in accordance with the state of their minds, which was still ignorant of the truth - that the Christ would die and rise again, their eyes were similarly hindered. It was not that the truth himself was misleading them, but rather that they were themselves unable to perceive the truth." (From The Harmony of the Gospels, 3.25.72)

How often do we fail to recognize the Lord when he speaks to our hearts and opens his mind to us? The Risen Lord is ever ready to speak his word to us and to give us understanding of his ways. Do you listen attentively to the Word of God and allow his word to change and transform you?

Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart to recognize your presence with me and to understand the truth of your saving word. Nourish me with your life-giving word and with the bread of life.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East

Pray to the Holy Spirit every day .... to open our hearts to Jesus

Let us try asking ourselves: am I open to the action of the Holy Spirit? Do I pray him to give me illumination, to make me more sensitive to God’s things?

This is a prayer we must pray every day: 

“Holy Spirit, make my heart open to the word of God, make my heart open to goodness, make my heart open to the beauty of God every day”.

I would like to ask everyone a question: how many of you pray every day to the Holy Spirit? There will not be many but we must fulfil Jesus’ wish and pray every day to the Holy Spirit that he open our heart to Jesus.

Let us think of Mary who “kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19, 51). Acceptance of the words and truth of faith so that they may become life is brought about and increases under the action of the Holy Spirit. In this regard we must learn from Mary, we must relive her “yes”, her unreserved readiness to receive the Son of God in her life, which was transformed from that moment. Through the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son take up their abode with us: we live in God and of God. Yet is our life truly inspired by God? How many things do I put before God?

Dear brothers and sisters, we need to let ourselves be bathed in the light of the Holy Spirit so that he may lead us into the Truth of God, who is the one Lord of our life.

source: Pope Francis, General Audience,

Saint Peter's Square, 

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

“the Holy Spirit is the inexhaustible source of God’s life in us.”

“the Holy Spirit, the Gift of the Risen One who dwells in us, 

purifies us, illuminates us, renews us, transforms us 

because he makes us participants 

in the very life of God that is Love.”



The Holy Spirit teaches us to see 
with the eyes of Christ, 
to live life as Christ lived, 
to understand life as Christ understood it. 
Let us hear the Holy Spirit, 
let us listen to the Holy Spirit 
and may we move forward 
on this path of 
love, mercy and forgiveness.



“The One whom the Father has sent into our hearts, 

the Spirit of his Son, is truly God. 

Consubstantial with the Father and the Son, 

the Spirit is inseparable from them.” (CCC 689)

1 Corinthians 12:3

no one can say “Jesus is Lord” 

except by the Holy Spirit.

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Renew our relationship with the Spirit

and

increase our devotion to the Holy Spirit.