Bethlehem was God with us Calvary was God

‘Bethlehem was God with us, Calvary was God for us, and Pentecost is God in us. ’ - Robert Baer The week beginning 3 rd June

This Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. We reflect on when the Holy Spirit came down and appeared as flames on the heads of the Apostles. It gave them the courage, strength and ability to spread the word to all who were open to hear it. In light of recent conflicts around the world, if there is a message we should be spreading as disciples of Christ it is PEACE NOT HATE. Let us make it our mission to care for all people, to show love to all, to unite together and not to break apart. Let us take a moment to reflect; How you can show peace today?

Let us Pray; Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

‘Bethlehem was God with us, Calvary was God for us, and Pentecost is God in us. ’ - Robert Baer The week beginning 3 rd June (Tuesday)

‘But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. ’ Galatians 5: 22– 23 A lot of times people misunderstand these verses. They think God is saying to be full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. God is saying more than that. He is saying that those characteristics are formed in our lives when we stay connected to Jesus. ‘I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing. ’- John 15: 5 Jesus is saying that a branch needs to stay connected to the vine in order for fruit to grow. We are like the branch. Our goal is to stay connected to Jesus. If we stay close to him in our everyday lives, then good fruit will come out of us. Like a branch cannot make the fruit, we cannot simply choose to be loving, patience, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and have self-control. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to create those characteristics in our lives. Our job is to stay connected to Jesus. When we do, good characteristics flow out of us.

Let us Pray; Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You, for I want to abide in the Lord Jesus, and allow the fruit of His life to be manifest in me. Help me Lord to grow in grace, and in knowledge of the Lord Jesus so that the graces which were seen throughout His life may develop within me. Lord, I know that it is only a life that remains in sweet communion with Christ Jesus, that will bring forth the sweet fruit of His Spirit. Lord, I want to be a person who reflects the Lord Jesus in my life, so help me to remain in fellowship with You day by day. I pray that it may bud and blossom into the promised fruit of the Spirit and that my life may become a life that has Christ Jesus at the centre. Amen

‘Bethlehem was God with us, Calvary was God for us, and Pentecost is God in us. ’ - Robert Baer The week beginning 3 rd June (Wednesday)

Basil was born at Caesarea in Asia Minor which is now called Turkey. Basil came from a rich and noble family. His grandmother is St. Macrina the Elder, his father, mother, two brothers and St. Macrina his sister are all saints. As a teenager Basil used to help organise famine relief and used to work in the kitchens himself. Fearing that his pride would overtake his holiness, his sister, St. Macrina, suggested that he became a monk. He sold everything he had, gave away all his money and moved to the wilderness where he started his first monastery. The rules he created for monks living in the desert were very wise and are followed by monasteries in the East even today. Basil became a priest and then a bishop. They preached bravely against the Arian heresy (untruth) that was confusing people and denied that Jesus is God. Basil always found time to help the poor. "Give your last loaf to the beggar at your door, " he urged, "and trust in God's goodness. " He opened a soup kitchen where he could often be seen wearing an apron and feeding the hungry. Basil died in 379 AD at the age of forty-nine.

Let us Pray O Lord our God, we beseech you, to ask for the gift we need. Steer the ship of our life to yourself, the quiet harbour of all storm-stressed souls. Show us the course which we are to take. Renew in us the spirit of peacefulness. Let your Spirit curb our fickleness; guide and strengthen us to perform what is for our own good, to keep your commandments and ever to rejoice in your glorious presence. Yours is the glory and praise for all eternity. Amen.

‘Bethlehem was God with us, Calvary was God for us, and Pentecost is God in us. ’ - Robert Baer The week beginning 3 rd June (Thursday)

Read and reflect on this piece of scripture and what it means to you.

Each of us is called to be a What beauty and purity, disciple individually. This sounds sweet fragrance and harmony, scary but God has given you what splendour and wonder, everything you need to succeed such joy and glory, Lord. and is with you at every step. You are so brilliant and Let us Pray; illuminating, so caring and comforting, Come, Holy Spirit, come. so gentle and renewing, Come, Lord, and take over my so patient and liberating, life; so motherly and wise. you are true love, love divine. You are true love, divine Lord, Flowing and glowing, come and take possession of brightness in my darkness, my soul. power in my weakness, peace in my troubled life. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Amen.

‘Bethlehem was God with us, Calvary was God for us, and Pentecost is God in us. ’ - Robert Baer The week beginning 3 rd June (Friday)

Before the Holy Spirit graced the Apostles with His presence, these followers were scared and in hiding. They were not sure what to do because Christ had gone to heaven to join his Father. In these times of uncertainty, let us always know that God will always send us what we need to move forward, to make this a better world. We use his strength not to hide, but to stay strong. Take a moment this morning to pray to God to give strength, not just for the world, but for your own personal reasons and endeavours.

Let us Pray Father, Pour out your Spirit Upon our community at Finchley Catholic High School. Grant us to work worthily in your sight As we build up our school within an atmosphere of honesty and trust, For your honour and glory. May we pray and work together, Consecrated in your service, So that you may bless our endeavour and aspirations and make our school a better place for all of us who teach, work and learn within. We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, and in unity with the Holy Spirit, Who lives and reigns with you Forever and ever. Amen.