SIMBANG GABI 2018 6
YEAR OF THE YOUTH
DECEMBER 21, 2018
Jesus, I trust in you!
Upon discovering from the angel
that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was pregnant, Mary set out in haste to visit
her and attend to her needs. But it was not her alone who went to visit nor was
Elizabeth alone who was the object of the visit. Mary was carrying in her womb
the Son of God who had just been incarnated. On the other hand, John the
Baptist has been living in his mother’s womb for six months then. Mary went to
visit Elizabeth. Jesus went to visit John. Mary went to visit Elizabeth to help
her through a difficult pregnancy. Jesus went to visit John to sanctify him
with the Holy Spirit even though he was still in his mother’s womb: “He will be
filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,” so said the angel to
Zechariah at the temple. Little did Mary realize that she was doing more than
just assist her cousin for at that moment when John was sanctified in his
mother’s womb, Jesus was already saving him. That moment of charity became a
moment of salvation. Beneath what was visible, something invisible was
wonderfully taking place.
The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary
and thus made the Incarnation possible. But let us not forget that the Holy
Spirit did something more in Mary. He inspired her to go to Elizabeth. In fact,
the conversation between Mary and Elizabeth was a Spirit-filled conversation.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped for joy and
she, filled with the Holy Spirit, declared Mary’s blessedness as Mother of the
Lord.
Young people, the Holy Spirit whom
John received in his mother’s womb is the same Holy Spirit we received on the
day we were baptized. He is the same Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary and
empowered her. Thus, you and I are empowered also by the Holy Spirit. He
empowers us with his supernatural gifts. As our helper, the Holy Spirit in us
empowers us to live lives that radiate the goodness of God. He helps us to be
who God created (intended) us to be. He is the power who sustains, energizes,
and keeps us on a holy path. The Holy Spirit makes us holy. He purifies us from
our sins through the Sacrament of Confession. He helps us convert and be
Christ-like. He transforms us into the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit directs
and helps us to do the will of the Father. The Holy Spirit imparts to us gifts
that will help us serve the Church. He empowers us to fulfill the calling God
has placed on our lives. He pours on us the love of God to sustain us through
difficult moments. He keeps hope alive in us through such moments by reminding us
that we are constantly loved by God. He helps us pray most particularly when it
seems too difficult to pray because our sorrows are too great. He reminds us of
what Jesus said and taught us, especially when the trials seem to be too great.
And most of all, the Holy Spirit makes us witnesses for Jesus. As the Holy
Spirit pointed out to John the Baptist the hidden presence of Jesus in the womb
of Mary, so also does he point out the hidden presence of Jesus to the world.
This is what we testifies to us. He keeps reminding us that the Lord is near.
He reveals to the world the Gospel and he does this through us. Therefore, we
should not shy away from being advocates for Christ. Nor should we worry about
what to say. The Holy Spirit will put these words on our lips. And those words
will be powerful words. Look at what the Holy Spirit placed on the lips of
Mary. It was just a greeting but when this greeting reached Elizabeth’s ears,
the baby in her womb leaped for joy. Through that greeting, John was
sanctified.
We are an empowered people. Baptism
gave us the Holy Spirit. Let the Spirit make us go in haste to bring the Gospel
to our friends and to all people. Young people, you are gifted. More than just
your innate talents, you are gifted with something more. You have received the
Holy Spirit. Go and share the Gospel. In the power of the Holy Spirit, be
disciples. In the power of the Holy Spirit, make disciples.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray
for us who have recourse to thee!
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