Daily Reflection, June 2, 2026

Reflection

Peter, in the first reading today, urges us to live a holy life so that a new heaven and a new earth will unfold. Holiness, as Christians understand it, is not worked out by our willpower or by keeping the rules legalistically. It is firstly the work of the Holy Spirit living inside every believer. The Holy Spirit transforms the person from inside and aligns them to the character of God. This process of internal transformation is a lifelong journey.
“You should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the Day of God to come,…”
On the Day of God, righteousness will be at home. Justice, peace, love and joy are some of the signs of righteousness at home. They are simply the fruits of the Holy Spirit. This is the new creation what Jesus promised.
Through the anointing of the Holy Spirit we become a new creation. The process of this new creation begins with REPENTANCE. Jesus says, “Repent and believe in the good news. The kingdom of God is near” Mark 1:15. The process continues through RECONCILIATION. Because with bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts new creation is impossible.
The key element of the process is FAITH IN JESUS. All those who receive him and believe in him are empowered to become the children of God. The process continues further with PRAYER, WORD OF GOD and the MAGISTERIUM teachings. Through these we build relationship with God and rekindle the Holy Spirit in us.
Also through SACRAMENTS and GOOD WORKS of mercy and compassion we are made new. Above all as a Passionist, walking through the path of SUFFERING and accompanying those who suffer we are transformed into a new creation. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church”. Colossians 1: 24.
As the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, may our hearts be transformed into a new creation.

Justin Durai Raj CP

St. Joseph’s Community,
Hobart, Tasmania.