7th week in Easter, Monday – 22nd May 2023 – Acts 19,1-8; Jn 16,29-33
Signs of the Holy Spirit
In the first reading, Paul speaks to twelve men in Ephesus. They had received the baptism of John the Baptist but know little about Jesus. Paul pointed out that John’s baptism was only a ritual of sorrow for sin. John’s baptism looked forward to Jesus, who by his death would make possible the full forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. Baptism in the Holy Spirit involved faith in and total commitment to Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The men accepted Paul’s explanation and were baptized. As Paul laid hands on them, they immediately began to speak in tongues and to prophesy, a sure sign that the Spirit had come down on them. This was exactly the same experience the disciples had at Pentecost (Acts 2,4.11) and Cornelius and his household had in Caesarea (Acts 10,45-46). Even today, the Holy Spirit manifests in explicit ways for the salvation of everyone. Baptism is the rite by which the Church affirms the person’s salvation. The testimony of those who receive baptism takes the place of speaking in tongues, and their depth of knowledge in Scriptures takes the place of prophesying.
