St. Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka'l, priest 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 16:11-15

 So we put out to sea from Troas

And sailed straight across to Samo­thrace Island, and the next day to Nea­polis.   From there we went inland to Philippi, the leading city of the district of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. We spent some days in that city.

 On the sabbath we went outside the city gate to the bank of the river where we thought the Jews would gather to pray. We sat down and began speaking to the women who were gathering there.  One of them was a God-fearing woman named Lydia from Thyatira City, a dealer in purple cloth.

As she listened, the Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.   After she had been baptized together with her household, she invited us to her house, “If you think I am faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us to accept her invitation.

 

Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a & 9b

The Lord takes delight in his people.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

John 15:26-16:4a

From the Father, I will send you the Spirit of truth. When this Helper has come from the Father, he will be my witness, and you, too, will be my witnesses for you have been with me from the beginning.

 I tell you all this to keep you from stumbling and falling away. They will put you out of the synagogue.Still more, the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will claim to be serving God; they will do this because they have not known the Father or me I tell you all these things now so that when the time comes you may remember that I told you about them.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Despite the hostilities of the world against the chosen of Jesus, He promises a helper, a consoler that will help His own to navigate the difficulties he or she will face. This is the Spirit. With the Spirit, the disciples will remain steady despite the many trials he or she will face.

The Spirit is Jesus’ guarantee to all who believe in Him that they will never be abandoned. Even though He will return to His father, the Spirit will be His and His Father's abiding presence in the lives of all who would believe. Thus the other name of the Holy Spirit is Consoler. When the going gets rough and we badly need the Lord, His spirit will be there to comfort us.