Holy Ghost Luton

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Wednesday 10/II Elijah defeats pagan prophets with an absolute total faith in the Lord. Jesus teaches that we need an absolute and total obedience to his commandments. Rather than being legalism it is about complete and utter trust through our personal relationship with him.

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Tuesday 10 In the midst of a drought Elijah goes to a generous pagan woman who shares her last food with God’s prophet. The Lord speaks to her through him. We are called to be light to the world and salt to the earth especially to those who do not know God yet are innately good.

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Monday 10 Elijah challenges the king and has to escape to the wilderness.God supports him, feeds him, keeps him safe. Christians living the Beatitudes challenge the world’s values. God is always beside those who are faithful to the gospel. Their reward is great in heaven.

[Holy Ghost Luton @holyghostluton]

And also with those who receive the same Body and Blood of Christ in the other parishes of our pastoral area, of our diocese, of the Church worldwide.

How do you care for the rest of the Body of Christ of whom you are a member by your communion? Prayer? Action? Service?Caring?

[Holy Ghost Luton @holyghostluton]

Fr. Kevin's homily for Corpus Christi (Year A)
Communion means community. That is, if we believe, as Paul says, that the bread that we break is a participation in the body of Christ, then we make one body with everyone with whom we share the Body and Blood of Christ in communion.

[Holy Ghost Luton @holyghostluton]

Not just at our own mass, but at the other masses too, and with those who, because they cannot get to church, receive the same communion at home, in care homes or in hospital.

[Holy Ghost Luton @holyghostluton]

As a parish this is a charter for our way ahead, to be alive!

Painting: The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and Mary at Pentecost by Elizabeth Wang

[Holy Ghost Luton @holyghostluton]

Fr. Kevin's homily for Pentecost

The Collect for today really challenges us.

Do we pray for and celebrate the flame of your Holy Spirit, your sevenfold gift or life-giving Spirit?

[Holy Ghost Luton @holyghostluton]

In our daily life do we allow the life-giving Spirit to lend fire to our words, strength to our witness and send us forth into the nations, who are all on our doorstep, to proclaim with boldness?

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Saturday Easter 7 We leave Paul in Rome under house arrest proclaiming Christ and teaching, his fate uncertain. Jesus is unclear about John’s fate but he is clear in his charge to Peter to follow him. That must be our charge also to witness without thinking of the consequences

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Friday Easter 7 Paul confuses the civil power by his claim of Jesus’ resurrection. His demand to be tried as a Roman citizen in Rome will bring martyrdom. Jesus elicits three statements of love from Peter countering his denials. It will lead to a cross like Jesus’. Faith costs!

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Thursday Easter 7 The Roman tribune saves Paul from the fighting between Pharisees and Sadducees. He hears the Lord’s call to be his witness in Rome. Jesus prays that his followers may share the love and unity he has with the Father. This is our strength and Paul’s in crisis

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Tuesday Easter 7 Christ prays that he may be glorified in the disciples the Father gave him by their continuing his work in this world. Paul prays to finish his ministry of testifying to the gospel. He prays that the elders will do the same. May the Spirit inspire us likewise

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Wednesday Easter 7 Jesus and Paul are both saying farewell. At Ephesus Paul tells them to remember to help the weak, to give rather than receive. Jesus prays that his disciples may become, consecrated in the truth. Today these are the gifts we ask of the Spirit for whom we wait

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Easter Monday 7 Paul brings people baptised with John’s baptism to baptism
In the Lord Jesus. He lays hands on them for the Holy Spirit so that they can speak in tongues and prophesy. It is through this Spirit that we can now fulfil Jesus promise that he has overcome the world

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Easter Sunday 7 Jesus prays for his own, those the Father has given him. He will send them the Spirit so the disciples and Mary wait in prayer. We too must be people of prayer not just waiting for Pentecost but everyday listening to the Spirit to inspire us to live the gospel

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Easter Saturday 6 Jesus teaches us to be confident that the Spirit who comes will enable us to ask the Father in his name and we will receive, making our joy complete. Apollos is fervent in the spirit as a teacher. Let us ask for that gift to make Christ known to people we meet

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Easter Friday 6 Jesus teaches that his leaving will eventually bring the disciples a joy no one can take from them in the Spirit. There will be sorrow and struggles as Paul faces in Corinth but our faith assures us of the promise of true joy. We must offer this to our world today

[Kevin McGinnell @KMcGinnell]

Ascension A. Matthew sets the Dominical mandate - to make disciples, baptise, teach a way of life. His return to the Father leaves us with this task. We always have him with us in the Spirit so we can achieve what he commands. It needs to be always in our minds and on our hearts

[Holy Ghost Luton @holyghostluton]

Ask yourself – do you give God what he deserves in your prayer life? What will you resolve to do to strengthen your prayer life on your own and with others?

Painting: Praying by Mihaela Ionescu

[Holy Ghost Luton @holyghostluton]

Fr. Kevin's homily for the 7th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Jesus has been taken up into heaven in the Ascension that we celebrated on Thursday. What were the people he had left behind to do?

[Holy Ghost Luton @holyghostluton]

Prayer – where is it in your life? How do you pray? How much time a day do you give? How often?