Archbishop's Journal: Touched by the Spirit, led by the Spirit
The Irish theologian Michael Paul Gallagher, in the introduction to his recent book, “Faith Maps,” quotes an Irish journalist who told him that you can go into a pub in Ireland and find an argument about God or the church, but you seldom hear an argument about Jesus Christ! That’s an interesting insight, and perhaps it’s true because God without Christ can seem remote and vague, and the church without Christ can disappoint and disillusion us. It’s Jesus who makes God present in his church; it’s Christ who makes Christianity our faith. At any rate Father Gallagher’s point is a good one, especially on the feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the church, and on the 50th anniversary of a man who has lived as a priest of Jesus Christ for 50 years (and two days).Pentecost is the great feast of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the life and love of the Father and the Son, the Spirit they give to the church so that we can continue the life and ministry of Jesus Christ among his people of every place and every time. On the first Pentecost, which we heard about in our first reading, St. Peter proclaimed the good news, the Gospel, of Jesus Christ to the people for the first time after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Peter, who betrayed Jesus on Holy Thursday evening for fear of the people and their leaders, was now filled with the Holy Spirit, as he fearlessly shouted out: “God has made both Lord and Messiah this Jesus whom you crucified! God raised this Jesus!”
In that first reading, St. Luke begins his story of Pentecost by saying that “they were all in one place together.” We need to note that fact carefully. Being a follower, a believer in Jesus Christ is not a solitary experience. It’s not about individualism. There are some experiences you cannot have alone: you can’t get married alone and you can’t have a friendship alone. That’s also true of following Jesus Christ. He saved us together as a people and he wants us together as church.
Also, note the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke compares the Spirit to wind and fire. Why? Because you can’t control the wind, and fire is nearly untamable too. Moreover, the Holy Spirit can and does overcome the divisions of language as well. As a poet has said, the Tower of Babel crumbles before the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On that very first Pentecost people visiting Jerusalem, speaking different languages, each heard about Jesus Christ in his or her own language. From the first day, there was diversity in the church. After all, the word “catholic” means “universal.” That diversity has continued down to our own time and place. This Sunday in San Francisco Mass is being celebrated in 18 different languages and cultures. Sometimes on television we can watch Mass being celebrated in New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in an African clearing, or in a slum in Rio de Janeiro, and it is always for us the Mass.
Holy Spirit Sins - News
Then Jesus said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” After that he sent them forth, in the Spirit, to do something only God can do, for now they act on God's behalf: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.” In our second reading St. Paul tells us how
Here is one of the greatest promises of the gospel: the Holy Spirit of God comes to our soul. Think of this, the Spirit of God comes into the control center of our soul, and starts giving true meaning to our lives. When he comes, he comes as the
“Gradually,” Tilley continued, “the individual sins of members of the Church ceased to matter to the issue of unity or holiness. Teaching on the indwelling and action of the Holy Spirit was what had held them together and that too was greatly
We uphold Christ's victory by walking in obedience to His Word, allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work and flow through us towards others, proclaiming freedom through the shed blood of Jesus to those who have been held captive by sin,
It's a moment of conversation that, I believe, the Holy Spirit is begging for us to engage in. And I would ask anybody -- yourself to contact me and contact us so we can begin this dialogue." Wright responded, "When the Scripture is so clear about
Life In Real Time – A Daily Devotional - Blog Archive – Something More
John 20:22-23 “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.’”
Observation: Mary had been first to arrive at the tomb. Finding it empty, she ran in a panic to tell Peter and John that His body had been taken. Returning again, she first saw two angels where His body had lain, then she saw and recognized the risen Christ Himself; in response, she clung to Him. Later Jesus appeared to the hiding disciples. He simply spoke peace to them, and their fear turned to rejoicing. His next words were these: “Receive the Holy Spirit,” and immediately thereafter, He commissioned them to minister forgiveness of sin to those who would turn from it.
Application: What’s going on here? Mary’s rising panic turns to joy when she sees Jesus, and she clings to Him.The disciples’ fear turns to rejoicing when He appears and speaks peace to them. But notice that something more was required if they were to be truly transformed by Jesus Christ: they had to receive the Holy Spirit.
In her flesh, Mary clung to Christ. Surely this is an easy response to understand, but it was inadequate. And surely His disciples’ fear was understandable. Mary had reported seeing the resurrected Lord, but all the disciples could discern with their five senses was that His body was gone and they surely would be blamed. But His unexpected appearance in their closed room changed their fear to rejoicing when He said, “Peace be with you.”
But I must understand this: clinging to Christ, however passionately, is not enough. I can cling to passing flotsam in a raging flood, but that does not by itself deliver me from the torrent, and it will certainly be of no use whatever when the next flood occurs. I may be joy-filled by His command to be at peace, but that alone does not transform me into an effective instrument in His hands. No, something more is needed: to receive the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit authority, the authority to forgive sins or to retain them, was what the Lord knew they had to have to survive the ordeals ahead. Clinging grows tiresome; high emotions wane. But Holy Spirit life is fundamentally transforming. He carries me beyond clinging, beyond the emotion of the moment, into a profoundly useful future.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the unimaginable love that caused Jesus to give His life for me. And thank You for Holy Spirit’s anointing that empowers me to live life for You. Fill me afresh today, Lord, with Your Holy Spirit, that the fruit You have called me to produce would everywhere be manifest.
Acts 2:38 <3
Repent & be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins & u will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
I love the Word of God because it's always convicts me of my sins, and also helps me to repent and be transformed by Holy Spirit.
Gr8 Day soaking in Gods Holy Spirit. I am so thankful my God has grace enough for me to forgive my sins
Acts 2:38 Repent ... and be baptized in the name of Jusus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the Holy Spirit.
RT : Ez18:4 The soul that sins shall die. A fact that you are commanded to share Ask the Holy Spirit for help. If you don't share it, who will?Holy Spirit Sins - Bookshelf
The Mission of the Holy Spirit
Believers should continue to be alert to the Spirit's conviction of sin, judgment, and righteousness. God the Holy Spirit will convince you that your ...The Fail-safe Way for You to Receive the Holy Spirit
Then, your sins will be blotted out and you will receive the Holy Spirit. Why was Jesus baptized? It was to take away all the sins of the world. ...A treatise on the Holy Spirit and his operations, An exposition of the 130th Psalm
Fourthly, The Holy Spirit carrieth on this work by applying in an especial manner ... By the first it is, that our sins are expiated as unto their guilt; ...The Ladies' repository
The Holy Spirit is blasphemed when its sacred offices are contemned and ... The distinction between the sin against the Holy Ghost and other sins is natural ...Systematic Theology
The name "sin against the Holy Spirit" is too general, for there are also sins ... It is not so much a sin against the person of the Holy Spirit as a sin ...Useful Information Directory
Eternal sin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Some sins that are frequently considered eternal include deliberate rejection of the mercy of God, and ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit to the Devil. Contents ...
Sins Against the Holy Spirit
The fall of Constantinople and its destruction is a striking example of the awful punishment meted out by God to those who sin against the Holy Spirit. ...
Holy Spirit Interactive: The Seven Deadly Sins - The List
Everything you every wanted to know about the Seven Deadly Sins ... Copyright © 2004-2009 Holy Spirit Interactive:. All rights reserved. ...
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit - The Unpardonable Sin
The unpardonable sin is that of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. ... When the Holy Spirit is convicting a person of his sins, the devil will tell the man:—You are a sinner, a ...
Sin Against the Holy Spirit
Sin Against the Holy Spirit. All sin is serious,and to some degree challenges and attacks ... But six sins are specifically identified as sins against the Holy Spirit. ...