Less of Me, Please

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, May 14th, 2023:
The Sixth Sunday of Easter

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Acts
8.5-8, 14-17

​In those days: Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralysed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.

Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Somehow in my early religious education, I missed the teaching on the Holy Spirit. I recall, when I was tentatively taking first steps on my journey back to a relationship with the Lord, being at a Christian gathering where people were inviting me to trust in the Holy Spirit. I had no concept of what that meant. My only image of the Holy Spirit was this fire- and wind-like thing that had swept through a room and made people speak in strange languages. Why would they be asking me to trust in something like that? I decided I’d just stick with my new friend, Jesus.  

Twenty or so years into my journey, I found myself at a Catholic women’s conference. On the first evening there was Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. As I knelt by my seat, listening to the music ministry lead us in songs of worship, I heard women around me singing in the most beautiful ways. I couldn’t understand a word they were saying but their voices blended in amazing harmonies that stirred me in a way I had not previously experienced.  We were invited up to receive prayer and, to my surprise, I felt myself moving to the front of the room and sitting with one of the prayer teams. 

These gentle women asked me what I wanted to pray for and, as I opened my mouth to answer, to my horror all that came out of me were tears. As I sat there weeping, I felt the hands placed on me, and I emptied myself, sitting there on that chair for what felt like hours. When I finally stopped crying, I was surrounded by the deepest peace. I believe this was the moment I truly received the Holy Spirit. My heart was broken open and my humanness revealed to me. I began to realize that I am nothing without my trust in the Holy Spirit. I began to look back at all the happenings that I had considered coincidence in my life, and I came to a new understanding that that was when the Holy Spirit had been actively working in my life.  

I was a baptized sinner in relationship with Jesus and not accepting the gift of the grace of God that the Holy Spirit was offering. Now I know that, when I take the time to ask for less of me and call on the power of the Holy Spirit, wondrous things happen. I am filled with His power and grace, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Father God, I thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit. May I always be humble enough to invite the Spirit into every moment of my life and allow myself to be Your vessel. I know I am nothing without You and everything because of You. May I always be obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Amen.



Sandy Graves

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