“Enkindle in us the fire of your divine love.” 

Paul wrote, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us” (Romans 5:5). This is mutual love. We all “love one another deeply from the heart” in “unity of spirit” (1Peter, chapters 1 to 3). 

This is not just human love. “Through the resurrection of Jesus,” God has given us a “new birth” by “water and Spirit” based on “the living word of God announced through those who brought us Good News by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.” So we ask the Holy Spirit to let us “love one another as Jesus has loved us” (John 13:34)—to love divinely because we are divine. 

We love divinely because we know divinely. Jesus promised, “In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. I will send you the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” 

Love is the first “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22). It gives the second, Joy. Peter wrote: “Although you have not seen him [physically], you love him” because you “believe in him.” And for this reason, you “rejoice with an indescribable and glorious Joy.” 

“Enkindle in us the fire of your divine love,” asks for what should be most characteristic of Christian life. Our life is the divine life of God. God is love (1John 4:8, 16).  Our life should be love. 

— Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings on the USCCB website here

Easter season is the time to focus on the Holy Spirit. Starting on Easter Sunday, we will look carefully at how the Spirit is proclaimed, invoked, and presented to us in the Mass. Lex orandi, lex credendi: “As the Church prays, so she believes.”

After that, we will reflect on the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Galatians 5:22), and at how the Spirit enters the life of those who believe.

As you read these reflections, ask for the gift of Understanding. Ask to really understand what you believe, what you see and hear at Mass. Go deeper into understanding the Mass than you ever have before. We experience the Faith when we become aware of its mystery. We hope you reflect deeply on the Mass and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and find yourself more and more drawn into the mysteries of our Lord in the Mass and in His Gifts.