Acts 2:1-13 The Holy Spirit Awakens the Church
Acts 2:14-47 The Mission of the Church is known and ACTED upon
Can you name signs of the Acts of the Holy Spirit…
In your life?
In someone else’s life?
In St Patrick?
In Bay Ridge?
I - The Holy Spirit is at Work - CCC. 686
1. The Spirit works through the Father and Son in completing the Plan of our Salvation.
2. The Catechecism mentions, These End Times - The Church teaches us that we do not know the End, but only the Father. It also points to our own End as we can see that future during our present journey. TIME is key to understanding our limitation, and only God can know.
A. Our experience is joined to Christ by way of His Incarnation - He becomes one of us to show the Value of our Life in God. We are precious and awesome, yet fragile as we are in continuous need of Him.
B. The Spirit of God revealed by Christ is given to us for our journey. We welcome Him into our own being to be our Guide and to Protect us a long the journey towards Holiness.
3. The Spirit insures in our hearts and mind His
Divine Plan, accomplished in Christ that it is forever stamped on our very
being. As Jesus is the First Born, we become through Him, the an image of the First Born - an Imitator of Christ. A new
creation as we are meant to be, as He alone can insure this blessing by being our Example.
Holiness should not foreign to us. Jesus, by way of the Holy Spirit, assures us Sainthood can always be achieved through Him.
A. We become Christ to the World and the Spirit shows it as we live as Church, in communion, in forgiving sins, in living out His Resurrection, so that we may have ever lasting life. Our expression of faith in Him becomes infectious to whomever we encounter, animating ones soul at a time. Luke 1:39-45
II - I believe in the Holy Spirit. CCC 687
In 1st Corinthians 2:11, St Paul teaches, No one
comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
1. One must understand the Spirit is who reveals
to us Christ as both His Word and Living Utterance. He speaks by way of the
Prophets.
A. No one hears His Voice, but the Spirit is reveals Himself by movements, which we can see through our faith.
B. Another way of seeing Him in ACTION is through the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit. We see Him in acts of the Christian living for Christ.
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit according Catholic Tradition are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of God.
The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit according to Catholic Tradition are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.
With the Seven Gifts and Twelve Fruits in mind, we can consider Seven Works of the Holy Spirit
• The Holy Spirit Transforms our Lives. ...
• The Holy Spirit Convicts Us of Sin. ...
• The Holy Spirit Guides Us to the Truth. ...
• The Holy Spirit Empowers Us to Proclaim Christ.
...
• The Holy Spirit Gives Us Spiritual Gifts. ...
• The Holy Spirit Empowers Us to Worship. ...
• The Holy Spirit Leads Us.
C. The Spirit does not speak of Himself or for Himself. John 16:13 It is very difficult for those who live in the world cannot see the Spirit works. Those who struggle with believing in the Holy Spirit grow angry when they cannot understand where He is. It is the believer who know how the Spirit moves. John 14:17
III - The Church… A Communion living in the faith
of the Apostles. CCC 689
1. It is in the Church that Christ has given us, the Christian will know the Holy Spirits movements and works. The Catechism teaches us we will know Him...
- In the Scriptures he inspired;
- In the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers
are always timely witnesses;
- In the Church's Magisterium, which he assists;
- In the sacramental liturgy, through its words
and symbols, In which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ;
- In prayer, wherein he intercedes for us;
- In the charisms and ministries by which the
Church is built up;
- In the signs of apostolic and missionary life;
- In the witness of saints through whom he
manifests his holiness and continues the work of salvation.
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