Filled with Spirit

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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. John XXIII, Pope, 11 October 2024
Galatians 3:7-14     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>    Luke 11:15-26

Lord Jesus Christ,
fill me with your Holy Spirit,
enliven my faith,
hope and love in You;
in this age of so many divisions
when we are being pulled by
the strong forces of the past
to go back to what was before
due to the excesses of modern time,
let us look for your Cross,
O Lord, to let the "finger of God"
work in us to cleanse us of
all evil and filth that make us
"scatter" than "gather".

“But if is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you… Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first” (Luke 11:20, 23-26).

Let us realize,
like what St. Paul tells us
in today's first reading that 
we who "have faith in You are
the children of Abraham,
that the blessing of Abraham 
might be extended to the Gentiles
through Christ Jesus, so that
we might receive the promise of 
the Spirit through faith" 
(Galatians 3:7, 14).

Let us embrace that truth,
Jesus, that You have done everything
for our salvation,
for our freedom,
for our being children of the Father;
You have cleansed us,
come fill us with your Spirit
for us to see our similarities
not differences to build a more
humane society here on earth;
fill us with your Spirit, Jesus,
let not the bonds and shackles of sin
hold us, isolated from others,
always competing that prevent
peace in finally happening.

Help us imitate your faithful servant
St. John XXIII who convened the
Second Vatican Council to open
the windows of the Church
and welcome this modern age
so we may find You Jesus ever more
present in this changing time;
most of all, to share You, Jesus
who is still most needed
in this troubled age.

You have done everything
for us, Jesus.
Let us rest on that by
remaining in You, 
doing your work
and make us stop
playing god, savior
of the world.
Amen.