Weekly thoughts on the Sunday Gospel, readings or a topic...

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seeing your life through the lens of the gospels – John 15:26-27, 16:12-15
1. Jesus recognised that his disciples were not capable of taking in everything at once. Wisdom comes slowly and sometimes painfully. Hearing the ‘right’ answer at the ‘wrong’ time does not help us. We need to be ready and open to receiving the truth if it is to have any impact. Perhaps you can recall some occasions when it was the ‘right’ time for you to learn a truth about life. Remember your experiences of growth in understanding.
2. The Spirit can guide us to understanding in different ways. Understanding may have come to you when you were praying or reflecting on your life. Perhaps the Spirit guided you through the words of someone close to you, or through the words and actions of people you read about, or saw on TV. Remember and give thanks for the people who have helped you to greater wisdom in life.
3. Jesus said the Spirit would ‘glorify’ him by reminding the disciples of Jesus’ own teaching. To whom do you give glory by taking their wisdom and incorporating it in your life? Are there people who give you glory by using your wise advice in their lives?
4. Wisdom is handed on from person to person, and from generation to generation, within families, within communities, etc. Are there any particular gems of wisdom that you cherish from what has been handed on to you? What wisdom would you like most of all to pass on to those close to you?  – John Byrne, OSA

Musings
Families, come to me and I will give you rest
Dear families, the Lord knows our struggles: he knows them. He knows the burdens we have in our lives. But the Lord also knows our great desire to find joy and rest! Do you remember? Jesus said, ‘... that your joy may be complete’ (cf. Jn 15:11). Jesus wants our joy to be complete! He said this to the Apostles and today he says it to us. Here, then, is the first thing I would like to share with you, and it is a saying of Jesus: Come to me, families from around the world – Jesus says – and I will give you rest, so that your joy may be complete. Take home this Word of Jesus, carry it in your hearts, share it with the family. It invites us to come to Jesus so that he may give this joy to us and to everyone. 
– Pope Francis, Address on 26 October 2013

The Deep End
Have you seen the film The Greatest Showman that came out earlier this year? Its soundtrack boasts a number of musical gems, from fun, catchy numbers to more rousing and powerful ballads. I was struck by a video I saw online of a read-through session before filming began. The film’s star, Hugh Jackman, had recently had surgery on his nose and was under strict medical orders not to sing. So instead, the director instructs him to stand in the right place, and act and gesticulate at all the appropriate moments. However, during the final song, he can’t stand it anymore. The music seems to take hold of him, and he bursts into song. The atmosphere in the room changes immediately, with musicians and singers joyfully joining in. It’s a powerful moment, and the video is well worth a watch. The name of the song is ‘From Now On’, and in the film it marks a major transformation for Jackman’s character, when the scales fall from his eyes and he sees clearly the changes he needs to make to live a better life.
I like to think that magical moments such as this capture something of what the apostles must have experienced at Pentecost. The powerful wind, the tongues of fire, the palpable and overwhelming presence of God stir something in the apostles. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they are unable to hold in their joy and enthusiasm. How are we moved by the Spirit? 
– Tríona Doherty, Athlone

(from Intercom)