WEBVTT 00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:08.240 In the first reading today, we see Saint Paul has arrived in Ephesus, and he finds some believers and asks them a strange question. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:11.759 Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers? 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:14.160 And their answer is kind of shocking. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:17.839 We've never even heard there is a Holy Spirit. 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:19.839 Think about that for a moment. 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:31.440 They believed, they were religious, they were trying, they had received John's baptism, they had repentance, they had good intentions, but they were missing the Holy Spirit. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:36.320 And I wonder if sometimes that's the story of many of us Catholics. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:44.079 We believe, we come to Mass, we try to be good people, we try to do what the commandments ask of us, we know repentance. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:50.240 But if someone were to ask us, what role does the Holy Spirit actually play in your life? 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:53.439 Many Catholics would not even know what to say. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:57.679 The forgotten person of the Trinity is often the Holy Spirit. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:06.799 We know the Father, we love Jesus, but the Holy Spirit, sometimes he comes as an afterthought. 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:12.079 And yet the entire Christian life is impossible without the Holy Spirit. 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:14.879 You cannot forgive enemies without the Holy Spirit. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:18.239 You cannot stay faithful in suffering without the Holy Spirit. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:21.280 You cannot fight temptation without the Holy Spirit. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:24.560 You cannot become a saint without the Holy Spirit. 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:25.040 Why? 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:29.760 Because Christianity is not self-improvement, it is transformation. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:34.079 The disciples in the gospel today think that they have arrived. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:37.120 They tell Jesus, now we believe. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:38.959 In other words, we get it. 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:40.159 We understand. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:45.599 And Jesus almost smiles at them and says, Do you believe now? 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:49.359 The hour is coming when you will all scatter. 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:51.920 What is he telling them? 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:54.799 Be careful of overconfidence. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:58.319 Because in a few hours Peter will deny him. 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:00.400 The disciples will run. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:03.120 They will hide behind locked doors. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:05.599 Good intentions were not enough. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:07.599 They needed Pentecost. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:10.560 They needed the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:12.879 Maybe that's the lesson for us today. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:16.719 There are some battles in life where your intelligence will not be enough. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:18.639 Your personality will not be enough. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:21.280 Your willpower will definitely not be enough. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:27.520 Your education, your money, your titles, your influence, all your things, none of that will be enough. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:30.560 You will always need the Holy Spirit. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:31.199 Why? 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:45.120 Because there will come moments when life knocks at your door with sickness, disappointment, betrayal, loneliness, anxiety, grief, deep temptations, and you suddenly realize I can't do this by myself. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:48.000 And Jesus already knew that. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:51.599 That's why his final words in the gospel are so beautiful. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:56.000 In the world you will have trouble, but take courage. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:02:58.400 I have conquered the world. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:01.599 Notice he does not say you might have trouble. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.800 No, he says you will have trouble. 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:11.199 Christianity is not the absence of storms, it is the presence of Christ in the storm. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:15.599 And because Christ conquered the world, suffering does not get the last word. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:17.680 Sin does not get the last word. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:20.879 Our mistakes, death does not get the last word. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:23.120 Anxiety does not get the last word. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:25.520 The tomb does not get the last word. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:27.759 Jesus Christ does. 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:31.439 And so we move towards Pentecost this week. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:34.319 Maybe our prayer should become very simple. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:37.120 Holy Spirit, I know about you. 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:39.360 And I invite you to live in me. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.479 Holy Spirit, strengthen what is weak. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:45.360 Holy Spirit, heal my wounds. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:48.159 Holy Spirit, set me on fire. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:54.560 Because the greatest tragedy is not to lose money, status, success, or comfort. 00:03:54.879 --> 00:04:02.159 The greatest tragedy is to live an entire Christian life and never unleash the power of the Holy Spirit already given to us. 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:07.439 And so the greatest saints in history were not necessarily the smartest people. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:11.680 They were simply the people who let the Holy Spirit take over. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:14.400 And that's the challenge for us today. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:17.360 Do I really trust on the Holy Spirit? 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:20.800 Do I call down the power of the Holy Spirit in my life? 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:22.079 Do it. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:28.480 Because Jesus is asking us to trust and to live with the Holy Spirit. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:29.439 Amen.