Reading 1
Acts 19:1-8
While Apollos was in Corinth,
Paul traveled through the interior of the country
and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples.
He said to them,
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
They answered him,
“We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
He said, “How were you baptized?”
They replied, “With the baptism of John.”
Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance,
telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,
that is, in Jesus.”
When they heard this,
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul laid his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Altogether there were about twelve men.
He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly
with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.
68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
Responsorial Psalm R. (33a)
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Jn 16:29-33
The disciples said to Jesus,
“Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
Meditation: Acts 19:1-8
“When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them.” (Acts 19:6)
In Hollywood, 3D movies are becoming popular once again. Fitted with a pair of special glasses, you can see not only the action in the foreground of the movie but you can also focus on important action in the background. Everything comes to life in a new and amazing way. As we draw close to Pentecost, God wants us to shift our focus as well, paying attention to the stories in Acts but also keeping an eye on the way the Holy Spirit worked powerfully in the apostles in all they said and did.
In today’s first reading, it’s easy to see both the foreground and the background. When Paul encountered believers in Ephesus who had no knowledge or experience of the Holy Spirit, he laid his hands on them—and the Spirit came, filling them with new life and moving them to pray in tongues.
Did you notice that the Spirit came as Paul laid hands on the people? He used this simple, outward gesture as a sign of friendship and solidarity with them. Through his touch, the people were brought into contact with an ambassador of Christ, and it opened the door for greater blessings.
Paul gives us a model here that we can follow. Praying for someone is a good thing. Praying with a person is even better. And placing our hands on someone while we pray is better yet. It tells that person that we are united with him or her in seeking the Lord’s help. But even more, we believe that whenever we pray in this way, we are giving the Holy Spirit a greater opening to act, sometimes in dramatic ways. We may even see miracles!
You may feel awkward praying in such a personal way. But there is great value in this sign of God’s love and presence. So let the Lord free you from self-consciousness, and step out in faith. It is such a simple gesture, yet it can bring such great results.
“Lord Jesus, your compassion for us is beyond our understanding! I bring the needs of all my loved ones before you. Please draw them close and heal them.”
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