During Easter the Disciples, men and women, directly encountered the risen Jesus. We see in scripture that it took a little while for them to come to terms with the resurrection and meeting the risen Lord. This is followed by the experience of Jesus' ascension to heaven. By then there was no room for doubt as to Jesus' divinity but they were probably left with a feeling of uncertainty about what they were going to do next also how to go about it. Jesus left them with a momentous task of bringing all people to belief in Him, but with His seeming departure they again experience doubt as to what was going to happen to them.

Sometimes we encounter this ourselves in the spiritual life, we believe in Jesus, his message, and what he offers to us, but there are times when it can seem to be unobtainable, something beyond us. There is a temptation to believe that we can never attain the promise of eternal life. The fact of the matter is that for us alone the promise of sharing in the divine life of God is unattainable solely by our own efforts. Sometimes our sinfulness and weakness can seemingly overwhelm our faith.

Jesus understood this then as he does now and He sends us help, divine help, through the Holy Spirit. Though our baptism and confirmation the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are told in scripture that we are, amazingly, nothing less than temples of the Holy Spirit. In times of weakness, doubt and uncertainty ask the Holy Spirit for help and guidance; remember he has made His home in your heart and soul. Jesus' followers were transformed by their experience of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost where they began to transform the world. The Holy Spirit is ready and willing to transform us too. 

As always, please be assured of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions.

Fr Chris