The challenge of living by the Spirit

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Today as we continue with stories of St Paul's mission from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear how Paul went to Ephesus where he found a number of believers. He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit. They replied that they had never heard of the Spirit as they had been baptized with John's baptism' Paul explains that John's baptism was of repentance in preparation for the coming of Jesus. When they heard this they were baptized in the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit came down upon them. The feast of the Ascension teaches us that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon us at our baptism. The Spirit within us challenges us in two ways. First, how can we become more aware of the presence of the Risen and glorified Jesus within and around us? Faith is not just an intellectual acceptance of truths about Jesus but a personal friendship with him. As Paul himself tells us in Ephesians 3:16-17, ''God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love.'' The second challenge is how we can find ways to let others see that our faith in Jesus is so important to us that they will desire it for themselves. Dear Lord, ''I do have faith! Help me to have even more.'' (Mark 9:24)