It is 27th May 2019. We celebrate the memorial of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, bishop. The readings are Acts 16:11-15; and the Gospel from John 15:26-16:4. No one can stop God’s work when it is done with love and dedication. We reflect about the growth of the Church during the second missionary journey of St. Paul and his companions. Wealthy and generous people like Lydia were pulled towards the Gospel and offered their own house as the base for evangelisation. God opens the heart of people not only to receive the Good News and also to become a benefactor and contributor for the work of evangelisation. “The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” (Acts16:14, 15). In what way we are helping the evangelisers and evangelising from our family? When we offer our resources and means for the work of evangelisation, like Lydia who gave her home to be used as the first house-church in Europe, God blesses us and provides in every way possible and to lead a saintly life. The responsorial acclaims, “The Lord takes delight in his people.” (Ps.149:4). The Gospel invites us to collaborate with the Holy Spirit by our mutual love that builds the community. It is not enough that we are inspired to see what others are doing in the Church; we need to take initiatives to do some good work for the growth of the parish or mission we belong. Bearing witness to the Good News is not always an easy always. The Holy Spirit helps us to be witnesses to Jesus, love and truth. “So I say, walk by the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:16). Jesus explains who the Holy Spirit in this passage is. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth, Testifier and witness who will help us to be the evangelisers for Jesus. In addition to that the Catechism teaches us in no. 693 “we find in St. Paul the titles: the Spirit of the promise, the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of the Lord, and the Spirit of God and, in St. Peter, the Spirit of glory. May we obtain the power of the Holy Spirit to work for the Lord and provide our means for the spreading of the Good News. May you have a good day. God bless you.

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