“I have told you this so that you may not fall away.” – John 16:1

       Facebook is a worldwide technological phenomenon. Through it, we can connect with each other globally in a very rapid way. We communicate with and track the whereabouts of old friends and acquaintances across the globe in real time.

       A 50-million audience reach took radio 38 years. Television took 13 years. But Facebook did it in less than three years. Facebook turned the globe into a virtual neighborhood. (Not to mention that it effaced Friendster.)

       Why was Facebook able to do this? I have a clue. It isn’t really just Facebook, but man’s innate need to be connected. Because relationships are man’s greatest wealth. So, why do we long for more? Because there is a foremost relationship at the core of our being that we long for — our connectedness to God!

       Only when we are founded on the Real Source of Power can all our other relationships make sense.

       We need to connect, get tagged and get nourished by God. Only then will we not “not fall away” (John 16:1). Want to subscribe to Faithbook? Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

Reflection: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Lord, may we always connect with You through prayer, Scripture, sacraments, community and ministry. Only then can we fully experience full life.

St. Ignatius of Laconi, pray for us.

11 We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city. 13 On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women  who had gathered there. 14 One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.

R: The Lord takes delight in his people.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. 2 Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. (R) 3 Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. (R) 5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats. 9 This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. (R)

The Holy Spirit is the counselor of the truth. As a disciple, it is important to know the truth because the many philosophies and lifestyles in the world can distract us. The Holy Spirit guides us to the truth and strengthens us to embrace it. This is in conflict with the world and its agenda. Pro same sex marriage, pro abortion and pro embryo experimentation are three of the most powerful lobbies today, but none of these embrace the truth of the dignity of the human person.

The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify.

26 Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. 27 And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. 16:1 “I have told you this so that you may not fall away. 2 They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. 3 They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. 4 I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

think: The Holy Spirit guides us to the truth and strengthens us to embrace it.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Joshua 21-24

MY LAWYER

Do you know that the Holy Spirit is your own personal lawyer? The Spirit’s service is free of charge. He is fully committed to your best interest — attaining eternal life — and is always available. There is no need to make an appointment. He is always by your side, the One whom you can trust completely with your life. Now, that’s my kind of lawyer!

       In the Gospel today, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father as Advocate, the Spirit of truth. The Spirit will bear witness on your behalf to the Father so that you might have life in abundance.

       Jesus warns His disciples of the persecution they will certainly experience. Oftentimes, Jesus forewarns His disciples that they, too, will experience the same troubles He did. Nevertheless, in all this, we must trust and stand firm in our faith in Jesus who has conquered sin and the enemy.

       During this Easter Season, we are taught about the witness of the Spirit in our life. We, the whole Church, are waiting for the promise to be fulfilled in a new and dynamic way. We need the Holy Spirit’s guidance and assistance. In a world where we are inundated with lies, false comforts, deception, the Spirit comes to enlighten us with truth.

       The Spirit is the pledge of Jesus that not all has been lost. It is the guarantee that we belong to the Father. Jesus has died and risen to foster new life. We are not abandoned, even though at times we may feel this way. The Spirit is our consolation that Jesus is still with us, though not physically like before but mystically. Jesus was empowered by the Spirit throughout His whole life and He entrusts us with the same power. See how much He loves us — by sharing the same Spirit that animated Him. Let us be thankful for such a great gift — the life of Jesus living in you and me. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you dependent on the Spirit? Do you call on the Advocate in times of trial?