Opening Prayer
God of Holiness, it is wonderful and frightening to get immersed in Your love. As in the time of Elijah, You end the drought and flood us with your presence. In Jesus, we no longer live in the arid desert of isolation from You. You are living water. It is refreshing to be drenched and soaked through by Your powerful love. I love to splash in the puddles of Your presence. Yet, once washed and bathed in Christ, You expect so much! You heighten the measure of what You expect of us. Beyond murder, we cannot even rashly judge and abusively speak of others! You will not tolerate anything which diminishes, destroys or demeans any of Your children. Do You understand how difficult that is for us? The power and presence of Your Spirit is the only energy that makes Your expectations possible. Flood us again today with a deluge of Your fiery, life-giving Spirit.
In 1884, Therese Martin received the Sacrament of Confirmation, so that the Spirit of Jesus would unite her more closely with God’s triune Love and strengthen her with a more mature faith. Help us, tender Therese, to appreciate the gift of God’s Spirit that we receive in Baptism and Confirmation and to use the Gifts to serve others and draw them closer to God. God’s Breath is so powerful in the way it transforms and strengthens us. Teach us again this day that Jesus has never abandoned us and lives and breathes within and among us.
View Scripture on USCCB Website