Psalm 104

Have you ever met a “nay-sayer?” A “nay-sayer” is one of those people who go around raining on everyone’s parade. No matter how happy and enthusiastic you may feel when you meet this kind of person; no matter how optimistic you are; the nay-sayer will find some reason to pop your balloon. You will leave the company of a “nay-sayer” full of confusion and downhearted.

The Holy Spirit is the opposite of a “Nay-sayer.” Whenever we are in contact with the Holy Spirit we feel buoyant, optimistic and full of enthusiasm. The Spirit gives vitality to our lives; it breathes into the lives of the faithful a sense of inner joy and enthusiasm for the Gospel.

When we possess the Holy Spirit, our lives can never be the same. The Holy Spirit brings not only virtues like peace and patience into our lives but joy as well. Why do we call the Gospel the good news? The answer is so simple and so obvious that we often overlook it. Jesus taught us that we are the children of His Father. That’s right; we are God’s own children. We are loved by Him more than any good parent loves his or her children. Once we understand that, how could we be sad? This does not mean that we are even free from suffering and disappointment. It does mean, however, that no suffering or disappointment can be so great as to rob us of our inner joy.

When the Holy Spirit dwells in you, He gives you a mission. It is the same mission Jesus gave to His disciples; to share the good news with all people; to spread kindness, and love; to reach out to the needy; to treat everyone as our brother and sister.

Sometimes this means to send missionaries to foreign lands to welcome the unbelievers; to offer them also the good news. True as that is, there is more to it. Do not forget the people in our own neighborhood who will never hear the good news unless you and I bring it to them. We have a mission as the first disciples of Jesus had to spread the good news; in our neighborhoods, in our society, in our homes, and in our hearts.

Come Holy Spirit; fill us with the good news of your presence.

Fr. Hugh Duffy