THE COMING OF AN ADVOCATE

PRAYER BEFORE MASS
Go before us O Lord, in this our sacrifice of Prayer and Praise, and grant that we say and sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and practice and show forth in our daily lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
 
PRAYER AFTER MASS
Bless, O Lord, our hearts and minds, and grant that as we leave Your house, we may continue to be aware of Your presence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. by Saint John Berchmans, Patron Saint of Altar Boys.

First Reading Acts   Acts 16:22-34

Become a believer and you will be saved, and your household too

The crowd joined in and showed their hostility to Paul and Silas, so the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be flogged. They were given many lashes and then thrown into prison, and the gaoler was told to keep a close watch on them. So, following his instructions, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 
Late that night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God’s praises, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and the chains fell from all the prisoners. When the gaoler woke and saw the doors wide open he drew his sword and was about to commit suicide, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Don’t do yourself any harm; we are all here.’ The gaoler called for lights, then rushed in, threw himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas, and escorted them out, saying, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They told him, ‘Become a believer in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your household too.’ Then they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all his family. Late as it was, he took them to wash their wounds, and was baptised then and there with all his household. Afterwards he took them home and gave them a meal, and the whole family celebrated their conversion to belief in God.

Responsorial psalm
You stretch out your hand and save me, O Lord

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
I will send you the Spirit of truth,
says the Lord; he will lead you to the complete truth.
Alleluia!  John 16 :7,13

Gospel  John 16:5-11

Unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Now I am going to the one who sent me. Not one of you has asked, “Where are you going?” Yet you are sad at heart because I have told you this. Still, I must tell you the truth: it is for your own good that I am going because unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will show the world how wrong it was, about sin, and about who was in the right, and about judgement: about sin: proved by their refusal to believe in me; about who was in the right: proved by my going to the Father and your seeing me no more; about judgement: proved by the prince of this world being already condemned.’

Heavenly Father there are changes that occurs in my life, most I do not understand.  Some can be  painful experiences, and they make me feel you are punishing me. Most times I fail to see your loving plan in the pains I am experiencing.  Father instead of asking for your Holy Spirit to guide, and that your holy will be fulfilled in my life, I will seek for solution or self help.  My Father and my God in seeking help I would have altered your loving plan in my life. 

I pray Father for the gift of your Holy Spirit, to be patient and to embrace your plan with thanksgiving when changes I encounter in life occurs: good or bad. Weeping may endure all night but joy comes in the morning. After storm there is calm, after darkness comes light etc. Loving Father this is the order of your plan in creation, and in accordance to everything created by you.

Lord Jesus Christ, you know everything.  God revealled His plan to you. You were with God during creation of the universe and all its creatures. The Holy Spirit was with you executing God's plan through His spoken words. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for your love. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for your care. You know me through and through. To give me comfort you promised sending the Holy Spirit our Advocate and Comforter.  Come Holy Spirit, Spirit of God I embrace you. Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you.


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