Memorial of Saint
Philip Neri, priest
(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)
Today’s patron saint, Philip Neri, characterizes the joy
of the Holy Spirit. Philip enjoyed
talking with regular people about the Lord.
His natural good humor made him attractive to others. But he was not just a chatterbox. It is said that he had the Socratic gift of
leading others to a deeper awareness of truth.
When his listeners made new insights about how to improve their ways of
living, Philip would pose the question.
“Well, brothers,” he asked, when shall we begin to do good?”
But the Spirit is not only about living together happily. It also calls people to hard truths and even
to suffering. In today’s first reading
St. Paul relates how the Holy Spirit is compelling him to go to Jerusalem. Paul is aware that imprisonment awaits him
there. He knows how he has stirred up
Jewish enmity. First, he converted to
Christianity and then he has disputed Jewish doctrine. Is the Spirit leading him to execution in likeness
to Christ?
We are now preparing for Pentecost, the great feast of
the Holy Spirit. Since the Spirit comes
as a rich and varied gift, we should want to witness its arrival. We pray that it will set fast on us. We ask the Father that through the Son, the
Spirit may lift us up in joy. We also
ask that it confirm us with patience and peace.
Most of all, we beg that it set us on fire with its love.
