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Recently I have been asking the Holy Spirit to shower me with His fruits and gifts. Since I know that they have already been given to me at Baptism and Confirmation, I am asking that He renew them within me. Because it seems as I get older, I become less and less virtuous instead of the other way around.
Why am I so impatient with my kids all the time? Why do I let the little things get under my skin so deeply? Why am I always in such a hurry? Why am I not able to calm my mind and heart during prayer? Since I am a practicing Catholic, shouldn’t I be emitting those fruits of love, joy, patience and peace? Why is it seemingly so difficult to live them out?
Perhaps it’s because I have fallen inward, shrinking into my own way and my own timing, instead of allowing God to expand my heart with His will. Perhaps it’s because I have once again tried to take control where it hasn’t been mine to take. Perhaps it’s because I need yet another lesson in trust.
Whatever the case may be in my own life and in yours, the truth is that we could all use a fresh dose of the Holy Spirit from time to time, with all His fruits and gifts. We could all use a reminder of His consistent presence in our lives. We could all use the peace and joy He brings amid this tumultuous journey we call life.
With His help, we can follow the words of St. Paul in today’s first reading: “Be kind to one another, compassionate…Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love…For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” With His help, we can imitate the loving compassion that Christ showed when he healed the crippled woman in today’s Gospel.
Imagine if by the way we live our lives we would cause others to glorify God as this woman did! Imagine if due to our joy we helped others to “rejoice[] at all the splendid deeds done by him”!
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Últimamente le he estado pidiendo al Espíritu Santo que me colme de sus frutos y dones. Como sé que ya me fueron concedidos en el Bautismo y la Confirmación, le pido que los renueve en mí; pues parece que, a medida que envejezco, me vuelvo cada vez menos virtuosa, en lugar de lo contrario.
¿Por qué pierdo la paciencia con mis hijos tan a menudo? ¿Por qué permito que las pequeñas cosas me afecten tan profundamente? ¿Por qué siempre tengo tanta prisa? ¿Por qué no logro aquietar mi mente y mi corazón durante la oración? Si soy una católica practicante, ¿no debería irradiar esos frutos de amor, alegría, paciencia y paz? ¿Por qué parece tan difícil vivirlos?
Quizás se deba a que me he encerrado en mí misma, replegándome sobre mis propios caminos y mis propios tiempos, en lugar de permitir que Dios ensanche mi corazón con su voluntad. Tal vez sea porque, una vez más, he intentado tomar el control donde no me correspondía hacerlo. O quizás porque necesito una lección más sobre la confianza.
Sea cual sea la situación en mi vida o en la tuya, lo cierto es que a todos nos vendría bien recibir, de vez en cuando, un soplo nuevo del Espíritu Santo, con todos sus frutos y dones. A todos nos hace falta recordar su presencia constante en nuestras vidas. Todos necesitamos la paz y la alegría que Él nos brinda en medio de este viaje tumultuoso que llamamos la vida.
Con su ayuda, podemos seguir las palabras de San Pablo en la primera lectura de hoy: “Sean buenos y comprensivos…Imiten, pues, a Dios como hijos queridos. Vivan amando como Cristo…Porque en otro tiempo ustedes fueron tinieblas, pero ahora, unidos al Señor, son luz. Vivan, por lo tanto, como hijos de la luz”. Con su ayuda, podemos imitar la compasión amorosa que Cristo mostró al sanar a la mujer tullida en el Evangelio de hoy.
¡Imagina si, por nuestra forma de vivir, lográramos que los demás glorificaran a Dios tal como lo hizo aquella mujer! ¡Imagina si, gracias a nuestra alegría, ayudáramos a otros a alegrarse por todas las maravillas que Él realizó!
Ven, Espíritu Santo, llena los corazones de tus fieles y enciende en ellos el fuego de tu amor.
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adult she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time in the Software Department at Diocesan and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.
Feature Image Credit: Serge Taeymans, https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-stained-glass-c_FLhtCp2vY
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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