And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit fell on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” Acts 19:6.

3D movies are viral today. When you put on special glasses, you can see exactly what is happening up front, but you can also watch some critical action that is going on somewhere in the background. Everything comes alive in front of your eyes in a new and fantastic way. Similarly, as the day of the sending of the Holy Spirit approaches, God wants us to turn our attention to the stories of the Acts of the Apostles and, at the same time, perceive how the Holy Spirit worked mightily in the apostles through all that they said and did.

In today’s first reading, it is easy to see what was going on in the foreground and the background. When Paul met with the believers in Ephesus who had no knowledge or experience of the Holy Spirit, he laid his hands on them, and the Spirit came upon them, filling them with new life, and they began to speak in foreign tongues. Did you notice that the Holy Spirit came down when Paul laid his hands on them? He used this simple gesture to signify friendship and solidarity with them. Because of his touch, the people made direct contact with Christ’s ambassador, which opened the door to more incredible blessings.

Paul offers us an example to follow. Praying for someone is a good thing. Praying with someone is an excellent thing. And laying hands on someone while we pray for them is even better. It gives that person the experience of seeking the Lord’s help together. Plus, we believe that when we pray in this way, we offer the Holy Spirit a more significant opportunity to act, sometimes in a fascinating manner. We can witness miracles! Maybe this intimate way of praying makes you uncomfortable. But there is great value in this bodily sign of God’s love and presence. Therefore, allow the Lord to free you from timidity and step out in faith. It is a simple gesture, but it can bring tremendous results!