Today, 9th of July, we celebrate
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions
First Reading: Acts 19:1-8
Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?
While Apollos was in Corinth,
Paul traveled through the interior of the country
and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples.
He said to them,
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?"
They answered him,
"We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
He said, "How were you baptized?"
They replied, "With the baptism of John."
Paul then said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance,
telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,
that is, in Jesus."
When they heard this,
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul laid his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Altogether there were about twelve men.
He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly
with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
R./ Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. or: Alleluia.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire.
R./ Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. or: Alleluia.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.
R./ Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. or: Alleluia.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
R./ Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. or: Alleluia.
Gospel Reading: John 16:29-33
Take courage, I have conquered the world.
The disciples said to Jesus,
"Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God."
Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world."
Dear brothers and sisters, peace and all good.
We are now in the final week of Easter, waiting for Pentecost. Everything already feels full of the Holy Spirit. This is a good time to think about what this Easter season has meant for us since we celebrated the Easter Vigil. How have I noticed the presence of the Risen One in my life? Have I felt His closeness, walking with me?
Because we have heard about the Holy Spirit. We are at an advantage compared to the Ephesians in the first reading. And that’s why we can face our problems and trust in Him—especially in times of trouble. Because Christ has already overcome the world, and through the Spirit, He helps us face difficulties with confidence.
Christ’s victory over the world does not mean a life without conflict or problems. It means we can go through those moments with peace in our hearts. That’s what the testimony of many martyrs has shown us throughout history—faithfulness to the end.
Of course, not all of us are called to martyrdom. But each of us will face moments in life that are not easy. In those dark times, we’ll need to rely on the promise that He will never leave us. That’s where we’ll show whether we are mature Christians.
Because growing in faith means learning to accept that believing in Christ does not take away our problems. Suffering is part of the believer’s path—but that suffering has meaning. It is painful, yes, but it can lead us to the Kingdom, to full joy with God. It’s not easy, but with strong faith in God, it is possible to understand it that way.
Just like the disciples, we are not alone. We are accompanied by the living presence of the Risen Christ, and by the breath of the Spirit He promised to us.
Your brother in faith,
Alejandro, C.M.F.Introduction
As Christians baptized in the name of Christ, we have received the Holy Spirit of fortitude. With his help, we should be able to give a place to pain and suffering in our lives. Anyway, it is part of all human life. But to Christians, it makes even more sense: it was Christ’s way and the disciple can accept in peace and use it for the sake of bringing peace to others. Christ will help us bear it, for he has conquered the world.
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God,
when your Son Jesus had to pass through trials,
he knew that you were with him
and he committed himself into your hands.
In this way, he brought peace to people.
As people baptized into his name,
let your Spirit help us to be brave
when suffering and difficulties come our way,
that, like your Son and with him,
we may overcome evil in ourselves
and in the world.
May our pains give birth
to love and peace and hope for others.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
General Intercessions
– That the Holy Spirit may breathe in us the fervor to live consistently our baptismal faith, we pray:
– That the Holy Spirit may give us the strength to carry with Jesus the crosses that come to us in life, we pray:
– That the Holy Spirit may warm up in us our cold hearts, that at times we don’t know how to forgive and love, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God,
in this sacrifice we celebrate,
how we have to pass through suffering
because it was the way of Jesus.
Make us aware
that this is also the way of the disciple,,
as the test of our faith,
the probation of our hope
and the measure of our love.
Give us the Spirit of strength to bear difficulties
with peace and consolation in our hearts
on account of the joy you have promised
and the fruits they may bear for others,
as an offering to you through Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, our God,
you promise us what no eye has seen
and no ear has heard.
Give us the strength of the Spirit
to bear suffering in hope
and as a way to grow in the life of Christ.
May it bring to others the courage
to hope in your promise
of a new heaven and a new earth
and to live in your friendship.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, the world was changed, death and sin were defeated. But we have still to make this true today. Justice and love must still triumph in us today. Let the Spirit commit us to do this today, and may Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
