Bearing the identity of Christ

Acts 19:1-8, Jn 16:29-33. Today we are exhorted to embrace the empowering strength of positive thinking, the wonder-working transformation brought about by laying a solid foundation on the right rock, our Lord Jesus Christ. Attaching ourselves to this solid rock means attaching ourselves to God the Father, of whom Jesus says: “I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” We are therefore called upon to embrace the practice of positive self-talk – at the sight of important missions, to learn to empower and re-empower ourselves through constructive, affirmative messages like, ‘the Lord is my strength’, Yes, I can by God’s grace. In today's first reading, Paul attached himself to Jesus and went to Ephesus where he encountered some of the believers. His visit also helps us to understand the difference between the Christian and Jewish Baptism. Before Paul's visit, the Ephesians were ignorant of the working of the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit came down on them when they were baptised in the name of Jesus. To be baptised in the "Name" of Jesus means to bear the identity of Jesus. In today's Gospel, Jesus invites us to bear His identity everywhere especially when suffering and trails knock on our doors. Jesus knew that those closest to Him would abandon Him after His arrest, rather than following him, the disciples went their own way, leaving Him alone. Yet He speaks with the conviction that He is never really alone because God His Father is always with Him. This is the kind of conviction that He wants us to share in the presence of God. May the Holy Spirit dwell within us so that everything we do this week may speak the name of the Lord! Amen!! Good morning and have a fruitful week!!!