Page 115 - spiritual_accompaniment_montreal_archdiocese

HOMILIES

First of all, the idea is not to come with ready-made solutions or the perfect recipe. First of all,
the idea is to rely on the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit is always sent to guide us!

We are always filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is very imaginative! We
can count on the Holy Spirit to inspire us in prayers, in actions, in finding the right words, in
being in mission, growing in mission, and continuing the mission.

This leads to the challenge we are facing together. We need each other. But we also need the
Holy Spirit to support us on our way.

This means that what we need first each day is prayer, and we must rediscover how to pray. As
we know, prayer is the foundation of the mission and also is a mission itself! Perhaps the only
thing that I can do is to pray, and I am already in mission! This is what Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
taught us. Prayer is the lever that lifts the world.

Therefore, praying is already being on a mission. At the same, the Holy Spirits enlightens us
in prayer. The Holy Spirit inspires when we say a few words or act subtly, or when we act
boldly and speak at length. The Holy Spirit inspires our generosity and our concerns. He
inspires us in prayer so that we can even learn to hold the entire world and all humanity in our
prayers.

Therefore, how can we be on a mission? How can we support each other? How can we be in
mission together? How can we be in mission to testify to Jesus Christ? In mission to testify
that no matter how isolated we are, God is close to every human being, each and every one of
us.

How can we testify to Jesus Christ in our life, how can we testify that Jesus Christ has the
power to give us peace, how can we testify no matter how afraid we are of the illness that
might afflict us, no matter how worried we are about our economic future?

Yes, this is the testimony that we are to give. Jesus Christ has the power to calm our spirits,
Jesus Christ has the power to carry us, Jesus Christ has the power to guide us. We can entrust
our presence and our future to him. We can entrust ourselves entirely to God.

In this time, we are called to pray. Praying is already being on a mission. We are called to invoke
the Holy Spirit, we are called to open the Bible every day, read the Bible every day, pray with the
Bible every day. And through the prayer of the Bible, we put ourselves before God in prayer. The
Holy Spirit guides us, the Holy Spirit inspires our gestures, words, thoughts of prayers. The Holy
Spirit is always on a mission. The Holy Spirit is not on a pause! He is always on a mission.

(cont’d)

Collection of texts by the Most Rev. Christian Lépine 115