Fr. Erik Tjeunfin, sx
Last Wednesday, by receiving the ashes, we began our Lenten season. Most probably each of us, or as a community or parish, has a commitment which will be done during this season. The readings of our first Sunday of Lenten season invite us to be ourselves with the power of the Spirit in facing challenges of life. In the gospel of today, we see how Jesus Christ persistently keeps his human and divine image from falling into the trap of the evil. Just after his baptism, where he had received the Holy Spirit, and was proclaimed as “my Son, the Beloved one, my chosen One” (Luk 3:22), Jesus entered into his ministry and encountered with evil which tempted him three times. In this story’s temptation, we see the presence of the Trinitarian God and especially the role of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Jesus, having the power of Holy Spirit and the strong image of himself, entered into the world which sometimes is wild. The devil persistently tempted Jesus, but because of having the power of the Holy Spirit and strong image of himself, Jesus did not give up.
In this case, Jesus taught us that, instead of filling ourselves with drug, high expectation, kush, prejudice, hidden agenda etc, we should fill ourselves with God’s power through prayers, sacraments and word of God, before doing our daily activities or facing any problem and issue in our working places. Like Jesus, if we keep the Spirit of God and divine image that we received during our baptism, the challenges and temptation will not destroy our commitment, purpose of life, relationship etc. Thus, we should not underestimate but being aware of the holy spirit and the image of God instilled within us, and make use of them in our mission. Our being loved by God doesn’t depend on power, money and other material things. If we have them, then we can make use of them to love and serve our brothers and sisters, as Jesus had done by feeding the five thousand (cf Luk9:12-17).
Through the power of the Holy Spirit and being aware of being loved by God , we can have more faith, and we can experience liberation from our slavery. The first and the second reading of Sunday explained to us on how the Spirit of God helps us to cry for God’s help and give thanks to Him for his mighty deeds through our eucharistic celebration. Seeing all God’s work, it should help us to believe and proclaim Him in our deeds and words. I believe that, each one of us has personal experience on how the power of the Holy Spirit strengthened us to face our wilderness. Amen.
Fr. Erik Tjeunfin, sx
Last Wednesday, by receiving the ashes, we began our Lenten season. Most probably each of us, or as a community or parish, has a commitment which will be done during this season. The readings of our first Sunday of Lenten season invite us to be ourselves with the power of the Spirit in facing challenges of life. In the gospel of today, we see how Jesus Christ persistently keeps his human and divine image from falling into the trap of the evil. Just after his baptism, where he had received the Holy Spirit, and was proclaimed as “my Son, the Beloved one, my chosen One” (Luk 3:22), Jesus entered into his ministry and encountered with evil which tempted him three times. In this story’s temptation, we see the presence of the Trinitarian God and especially the role of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Jesus, having the power of Holy Spirit and the strong image of himself, entered into the world which sometimes is wild. The devil persistently tempted Jesus, but because of having the power of the Holy Spirit and strong image of himself, Jesus did not give up.
In this case, Jesus taught us that, instead of filling ourselves with drug, high expectation, kush, prejudice, hidden agenda etc, we should fill ourselves with God’s power through prayers, sacraments and word of God, before doing our daily activities or facing any problem and issue in our working places. Like Jesus, if we keep the Spirit of God and divine image that we received during our baptism, the challenges and temptation will not destroy our commitment, purpose of life, relationship etc. Thus, we should not underestimate but being aware of the holy spirit and the image of God instilled within us, and make use of them in our mission. Our being loved by God doesn’t depend on power, money and other material things. If we have them, then we can make use of them to love and serve our brothers and sisters, as Jesus had done by feeding the five thousand (cf Luk9:12-17).
Through the power of the Holy Spirit and being aware of being loved by God , we can have more faith, and we can experience liberation from our slavery. The first and the second reading of Sunday explained to us on how the Spirit of God helps us to cry for God’s help and give thanks to Him for his mighty deeds through our eucharistic celebration. Seeing all God’s work, it should help us to believe and proclaim Him in our deeds and words. I believe that, each one of us has personal experience on how the power of the Holy Spirit strengthened us to face our wilderness. Amen.
Fr. Erik Tjeunfin, sx