Filled with Joy and the Holy Spirit
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Acts 13:48-52
When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and glorify the word of the Lord, and all who were destined for eternal life came to believe. Thus the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. But the Jews stirred up the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Grace Prayed For
This passage prompts us to pray for the grace of apostolic joy—a joy rooted not in the world’s acceptance of us, but in our complete obedience and intimacy with the Holy Spirit, empowering us to continue the mission whether we are received with joy or rejected with hostility.
Reflection
What does it truly mean to “share and receive”? In this passage, we see both sides of the mission. Paul and Barnabas, overflowing with their relationship with the Risen Christ, share the Word. Their intimacy with God is not a private possession; it is a fire that must be shared.
And the reception! The Gentiles “began to rejoice.” They received the word with open hearts, and the result was belief and the spreading of the word “through the whole region.” This is the beautiful side of mission: when the love we share finds a home in another’s heart, and we get to witness their joy.
But intimacy with God does not insulate us from the pain of the world. The mission also involves rejection. The same word that brought joy to the Gentiles brought agitation to others, resulting in “persecution” and expulsion. Paul and Barnabas were forcibly driven out. This is a moment where “sharing” is met not with “receiving,” but with hostility.
Here is the test of intimacy. Is our mission dependent on our success? Is our love conditional on being loved back?
Paul and Barnabas show us the fruit of true intimacy. Their response to persecution isn’t despair, anger, or even argument. Their response is obedience. They “shook the dust from their feet,” just as Jesus had instructed, and “went to Iconium.” They remained obedient to the mission, not to the results.
And what is the immediate consequence? What is the fruit of this costly obedience? “The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.”
This is the heart of our theme. Their joy was not found in the validation of the crowds. Their joy was the direct fruit of their intimacy with the Trinitarian God. It was the Holy Spirit, abiding within them, that filled them with a joy that persecution could not touch. This is the love that is meant to shine forth from us. It is a love that shares freely, receives gratefully, and when rejected, obeys faithfully, all the while drawing its unshakable joy from the deep well of intimacy with God Himself.
Daily Evangelization and Baptismal Mission
Fulfilling Your Mission: Daily Evangelization
Fulfilling our Baptismal mission isn’t always about grand gestures; it’s about reflecting the love you’ve personally received from Jesus in your daily encounters.
Perform Small Acts of Love: Your mission is to partner with Jesus in “restoring all of god’s creation.” This can mean picking up trash on your walk, complimenting a coworker, or (drawing from your own interests) sharing a warm bowl of soup with a neighbor. These small acts of restoring order, beauty, and warmth to the world are powerful Gospel proclamations.
Evangelize by Receiving: The most powerful way to “share” is often to first “receive” the person in front of you. Practice presence. When you ask, “How are you?” really listen to the answer. Create a space where others feel seen and heard. This is evangelization, as you are offering them the very presence and attentiveness that Christ first offered you.
Share Your Specific Story: Instead of speaking in generalities, share your specific testimony. You don’t have to preach. It can be as simple as, “I was feeling so overwhelmed this week, but I spent some time in prayer, and it brought me a peace I can’t explain. It reminded me I’m not doing this alone.” Sharing how Jesus has personally impacted your life is a powerful witness.
Be the Joy of Verse 52: The disciples were “filled with joy.” Let the fruit of your intimacy with God be a genuine, unforced joy. Smile at a stranger. Be patient in a long line. Show gratitude to a service worker. People are desperately seeking joy, and when they see it in you, they will be drawn to its source.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post