Promises Fulfilled
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
"I will put my Spirit in you that you may live," the Lord promised through the prophet Ezekiel, a promise fulfilled through Jesus, for as Paul tells the Romans, "the Spirit of God dwells in you." It is a power of immeasurable greatness, for it is this same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20).
The New Testament reveals that the whole life and mission of Jesus Christ is lived out in total communion with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at his Baptism is the sign of his anointing as Messiah. Jesus promises to send the Spirit upon the apostles once he has completed his mission, a promise fulfilled both on Easter Sunday (Jn 20, 22) and on Pentecost (Acts 2,1-4). As Christ is filled with the Holy Spirit, those who are incorporated into his Body (us, the Church) are also filled with that same Spirit.
The Mother of Christ, our Mother, Mary - Mary's strength of character and clarity of vision evidenced in Scripture makes the reader long for more. We receive in the gospels only brief impressions of the real human woman-in the birth narratives; in the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1f); at the foot of the cross (John 19-25f). We're given only enigmatic glimpses of her feelings as Jesus' life and ministry unfolds. We know she "treasured al1 these things in her heart" - (Luke 2: 51); we can see her confidence in her son: "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5); she obviously suffered greatly, as promised by Simeon: 'A sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35). We are focused on hope and vindication and triumph. "Of all women you are the most blessed. Blessed is the fruit of your womb. "'My soul. magnifies the Lord'" The victory is complete; the promise fulfilled: unto us a child is born.
The Easter Vigil is THE most important celebration for us as Catholics, the Resurrection of Jesus, the source of our hope, the promise fulfilled, the Reign of God breaking into the sorrows of our 1ives. Death doesn't have the last word. The power of God is stronger, even when all seems lost. We light the Easter candle, the Light of Christ, bless the new water, baptize new Catholics and sing as many alleluias as we can!
"Jesus promised his disciples in Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2), and the first apostles and disciples never stopped boldly proclaiming the gospel of salvation in Jesus.
The Holy Spirit did more than give power and boldness to preach. The Holy Spirit was to be a guide, counselor and teacher (cf. John 14:26). The Holy Spirit was also to produce holiness through the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22). The fruit of the Holy Spirit stands in sharp contrast to the works of the flesh observed in the world: including fornication, impurity, enmity, strife, anger, selfishness, envy and drunkenness (Gal 5:20–21). The Holy Spirit also brought about a community of faith and love (Act 2:42–47). Jesus, when he ascended into heaven, sent the Holy Spirit from the Father, to accompany us in a life of holiness and evangelization in the community of the Church."
Jesus commissioned his disciples, the twelve Apostles, as the first priests, as missionaries, to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to their friends, their neighbors or anyone willing to listen to them as they spoke in areas ever larger than Jerusalem. Likewise, as serious Catholics, our great Pope, St. John Paul II, urges and strongly desires all Catholics to go out there, in the marketplace, so to speak, and spread the Good News, first through being Christ to others, and second by teaching and spreading God's word, and most of all, to teach other people about God's unconditional love for all of us. By ourselves we cannot accomplish this, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, God's love between Father and Son, and between God and us, we can accomplish this quite easily when we unconditionally say Yes, Lord.
The great gift Jesus gave us, His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, His Real Presence, was given to all of us that Thursday night at the Last Supper. Jesus told us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind", and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." So when He gave his life for us on Good Friday, He showed us His love for us... He gave His life for all of us, so that we may be redeemed and be saved.
What takes place in Holy Week is reality. In the Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus gives us Himself. He lays down his life for us, so that we may find happiness in Him. Happiness without Him is a transient "feeling good," that withers away. For many people it is too late. Many of the world's people do not know Jesus and what He made possible for all of us. All too many people are unhappy because their life has become meaningless. When you take God out of life's equation, the luster of a human life subdues, there is no more meaning to life, there is no more life. What remains is an existence consisting of pain, frustration, anxiety, deprivation, and extreme loneliness. That's when some people turn to drugs or sex, to make it all bearable. That's not life, that's death. There is no beauty left and life has lost it's meaning. For those and for all of us, Jesus suffered a most terrible death. A death that seems to go wasted as long as we repel Him. But if we love Him, as He loves us, then there will be much joy in your life. Then you will happily get out of your gloomy existence and apply all your considerable talent and capacity for true love to join the millions who know Jesus by His first name. And we hope that some day, we may all be together in the House of the Lord: Heaven.
Many people fail to recognize that when God sent His only Son Jesus, to die on the Cross to redeem us, that God sent us the ultimate expression of His love. There are numerous examples of His love in Holy Scriptures but if that should still be unconvincing, then please go and sit by the Tabernacle for a half hour or more and tell Jesus in your own words that you love Him, that you need His help. Saint Bonaventure, the great Franciscan Doctor of the Church, speaks of devotion to Mary as the ninth Beatitude and he reminds us that all who will serve her worthily will be justified and saved. So while simply adoring the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, one might pray a Rosary or some Our Fathers and Hail Maries.
Saint Bernard, the last of the Fathers of the Church wrote: "It is by Jesus Christ alone that we have access to the Eternal Father. Likewise it is by Mary, and only by Mary, that we have access to Jesus." Why do I suggest praying to Jesus through Mary? Well, of course we can pray to Jesus directly but we regard Mary as our Mother and that is what she is, when Jesus told her on Calvary, (John 19:26b-27) "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" We are all His disciples. The other part of the reason is that we naturally are at ease speaking to our natural mothers. We confide in them, so it also seems natural to confide in our Mother Mary. Speak to Mary, our mother in heaven as a child, with childlike trust. The author of the Hail Mary is the Blessed Virgin, what the Archangel Gabriel said to her at the Annunciation, and the conversation between Elizabeth and the Blessed Mother at the Visitation. God's ultimate expression of love can truly only be experienced in Heaven. A high level of perfection attained on earth will surely get us admitted into Heaven. Perfection on any level is not possible without a strong devotion to Our Blessed Mother. But it takes effort to live according to the Charter of Happiness, the Sermon on the Mount.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
See Matthew 5:3 for the complete text.
Easter Blessings,
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
April 3, 2024 from notes gathered years ago.