Confirmation Make-Up Assignment: Week 3
The role of the Holy Spirit in our lives is similar to Christ’s role on Earth: to guide the faithful to live according to God’s ways. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth and teaches us how to live it out.
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The passage below is from the Last Supper. Jesus tells His disciples that even though He will not be with them for much longer, He will send an advocate to be with them. Some translations of this passage say that Jesus will send the paraclete to be with them . John 14:6-18 : “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate* to be with you always, the Spirit of truth,* which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” The word paraclete is a Greek word that means “He who is called to one’s side.” In Greece they used the work parakletos when they spoke about an attorney or a lawyer. What does a good lawyer do? He gives you counsel and advice. He guides you to see the truth and advocates for you. |
But because sin clouds our vision of the truth, God has also chosen to directly reveal the law to us (The Ten Commandments, The Beatitudes, the command to love God and neighbor)
Our conscience allows us to take what we know of God’s law and apply it to situations in our life.
The Holy Spirit helps us to overcome temptation and live a moral life. He gives us courage when we are afraid or facing obstacles. The Holy Spirit helps us to make decisions that are not easy to make, especially when the path isn’t clear or there are people or things pulling you in a multitude of different directions.
Another common symbol of the Holy Spirit is fire.
Acts 2: 1-3: “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,* and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,which parted and came to rest on each one of them.”
- The Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire on the Apostles at Pentecost. Fire wakes us up and sends us forward. It also transforms everything it touches, just like God’s Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit sets our hearts on fire with love for God. When we love God, we desire to turn away from sin because we know that sin hurts our relationship with God.
- The fire of the Holy Spirit transforms our life to look more like Christ’s life. He sanctifies us and our actions.
- The Holy Spirit is powerful, just like fire. He is our best advocate.
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Jesus instituted the Church through his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. These events are known as the Paschal Mystery. Jesus entrusted his work on earth to be continued by the Apostles. His last words before he ascended into heaven were “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” [Matthew 28:16-20] ^ This is the mission of the Church! To make disciples of all nations, to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching the following of all the commandments! |
The Church received her power when the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost.
The Church is the home of the Holy Spirit in the world. The Holy Spirit enables the Church to fulfill her mission in the world.
The Holy Spirit builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. The Church can only be called holy because of the Holy Spirit dwelling in her. What the soul is to the human body, the Holy Spirit is to the Church.
The Church carries on Christ’s work in the world until He comes again in 2 different ways... Through Preaching & Teaching, & through the Sacraments:
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Preaching & Teaching:
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The Sacraments:
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The Church is also the Body of Christ
Often when we think of the Church, we think of our Church, Resurrection; or the institution of the Church; but the Church is also us! The Church is the People of God
We are the Body of Christ. A body has many parts. Each part has a different and necessary purpose. We, the body of Christ, all have different talents and capabilities. God created each of us with different gifts to build His Church: The Body of Christ.