Holy Spirit- the Encourager

In breaking the word this week, Fr. Dom explained the Holy Spirit in the context of the Trinity-the Father is the creator, Jesus the redeemer and the Spirit the encourager.

He said God created man and woman in the image and likeness of Him with the intention that they will be His people and He will be their God (Ez: 37:23). God gave people freedom so that they can choose. Adam and Eve made a choice to ignore God’s instruction of the forbidden fruit and sin entered the world.

Then God sent prophets and finally His son, Jesus to save the people. Jesus, thus became a realization of God’s intention. John 3: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.

The foundation of Jesus teaching was of the Kingdom of God. He gave us his body and blood so that we can become one body- one church; one parish. 1 Cor 11: 27 whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

Fr. Dom explained, after Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised us an advocate to help us carry on with the mission of uniting the people and bringing them to God.

“When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place”(Acts 2: 1). They were afraid but when the spirit descended upon them , they were encouraged and went out to share the word. Thus, the intention of the Father continues through the spirit.

The Holy Spirit encouraged them as he does us in our lives today. We find the strength to carry on because the spirit is very much alive is us. It gives us the power to carry on despite all our troubles and moments of desolation.

For us to be worthy of the mission, we need to be faithful to the word, receive the sacraments worthily and be of service to the less fortunate.