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God’s love poured out Synopsis God is love – John 4::8 This simple statement is the beginning and the ending of our pilgrimage of faith. God is love and the Lord’s love is perfect, passionate and unconditional. There is nothing that we can do that would cause God to love us more and nothing we can do that would cause him to love us less. We are able to come to experience the beauty and freedom of God’s love by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God reveals the love of the Father, which changes us. When we experience God’s love we come to understand in a powerful way that we are in fact lovable. God’s love reveals our beauty and goodness before him |
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Key Texts Romans 5:5 : The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us 1 John 4:8-11 Whoever is without love does not know God , for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us , we also must love one another Discussion 1. How does the reality of God being love change your view of God, love nd yourself? 2. All love is not the same. Consider for a few minutes the meaning that today’s culture attaches to love. Compare this to the love of God. 3.-It is the love of God that gives beauty and meaning to the human person. How do we experience this and share it? 4.-What can you do to help facilitate a rediscovery of the love of God and the dignity of the human person? Come Holy Spirit. Reflection Take ten minutes of quiet prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to come. Don’t be in a rush; ask and wait. After a moment or two begin slowly repeat: “God is love”. Alow those words to fill your mind and heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to pour the love of God into your heart. Imagine your heart being opened and love being poured in . In a very quiet whisper, slowly repeat those words , pausing on each word of Scripture. God ….is …love God is love The love of God has been poured out in our hearts ********************************** |
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| The bread of God Synopsis The only way we are able to live a life of faith, a life full of love, and peace, joy, and power, is by the Holy Spirit. We see this most clearly in the lives of the Apostles. They had every advantage in being with Jesus and hearing him preach and seeing the many miracles that he had done. And yet, even with that advantage, they were frightened men living their faith life in a locked room before they received the Holy Spirit. What took place in the upper room changed the lives of these men and women and would change the course of human history. This experience of the Holy Spirit is an encounter available to every one; it is not reserved for select few. Pentecost and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is the theme of this segment |
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Key Texts Acts 1:4-5 John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-7 “ 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… (Acts 2:1-2) John 20:19-23 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you…As the Father has sent me, I send you”. And when has said this, he breathed on them and said to them , Receive the Holy spirit” ( John 20:19 21-22) Discussion 1. – Describe your relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helped reveal who Jesus really was. How has the Spirit done this for you? 2. - The Holy Spirit changed the lives of the Apostles. What has been your experience of the Holy Spirit? Have you experienced tongues of fire, a driving wind, or a breath? 3. Our faith life is not supposed to be lived in fear and in a locked room. Described encounters with the Holy Spirit you have had that moved you out of a locked room. |
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Reflection Come Holy Spirit Prayerfully read over the Scriptures cited here. Take some time and ask that God would send you his Holy Spirit and give you peace. After a few minutes ask that God would breathe life into you. Pray that God would send upon you the Holy Spirit just as he did he Apostles centuries ago. Expect to experience God’s peace, presence, and love Holy Spirit, breathe life into these dry bones For the Spirit of God has made me, and the bread of the Almighty gives me life --Job 33: 4 Receive the Holy spirit John 20: 23 ********************************** Baptism in the Spirit and Fire Synopsis He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire --Matthew 3 :11 Jesus came to baptize us in the Holy Spirit, and the power and grace that comes from Baptism in the Holy Spirit changes lives. For the millions of Catholics worldwide who have had this experience, it is a transforming grace that brings freedom, peace, and the very presence of God. Unfortunelately for manyCatholics the term ‘Baptism in the Holy Spirit” is not one with which they are familiar. In this segment, we will discuss what Baptism in the Holy Spirit is all abơut. Key Texts Matthews 3: 11 “ I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I, I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you wtih the Holy Sprit and fire. Mark 1:8 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” Luke 3:16 “ I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals” John 1:33 ”He is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit” Acts 1 :5 For John baptized with water; but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” |
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Discusson 1.-What has been your experience of Baptism in the Holy Spirit? Is this something new to you? 2.-Discuss occasions where you have experienced- the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. When have you felt his peace? His fire? 3.-What kind of words would you use to describe your relationship with the Holy Spirit? Fire? Power? Reflection Come Holy Spirit. Find a time and place where you can quiet yourself. Spend some time letting of things that may be troubling you or causing anxiety. Give them to the Lord one by one. Take your time and be patient; there is no hurry. If it’s helpful, write your concerns and anxieties down and then give them to the Lord. When you feel it is time, ask God to send his Holy Spirit upon you to baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. Be open to experiencing God’s love, peace, closeness, and possibly forgiveness. Let the Spirit of God overshadow you
Let us Rediscover, Dear Brothers and sisters, the beauty of Being in the Holy Spirit Pope Benedict XVI Baptize you with Fire Mt 3: 11 ******************************** |
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The Spirit and Our Lady Synopsis “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” .-Luke 1: 35 Our Lady, from the moment of her conception, was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. As the Spouse of the Holy Spirit she models for us what our lives can look like when we say “yes” to God’s will and fully give ourselves over to the actions of the Spirit of God. Mary’s Fiat led her to the Cross, the empty tomb, and ultimately the upper room where she was once again overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. If we have the courage, as Mary did, to say yes to God’s Spirit, to surrender our will to his, we too will experience the power of the Most High over-shadowing usKEY TEXTS Luke 1:30-35 “ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God . Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus…” (Lk 1:30-31) Luke 1:45 “ Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, . And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me ?” CCC 485 “The mission of the Holy Spirit is always conjoined and ordered to that of the Son. The Holy Spirit, “ the Lord, the giver of life,” is sent to sanctify the womb of the Virgin Mary” |
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Discussion !. Read the first chapter of Luke and discuss our reflections regarding the role of the Holy Spirit in the announcements of both John’s and Jesus’ births. 2. When we read these texts it becomes clear that God had a plan and he uses various people, who submit to the Holy Spirit, to bring forth his plan. How is it apparent that God has a plan for your life? 3. How has God used you to bring about his plan in other people’s lives? Reflection Come Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit who overshadowed our Lady desires to overshadow you. Take some time in prayer and consider the role Our Lady and the Holy Spirit have in the plan of our salvation, Pray for the grace to echo Mary’s “ Yes” to the will of Holy Spirit and pray that Mary would intercede for you “ Thus she, who is present in the mystery of Christ as Mother, becomes the will of the Son and the Power of the Holy Spirit present in the Mystery of the Church “ --Pope St John Paul II Redemptoris Mater 24 Do not be afraid Luke 1: 30 ************************** Gifts of the Holy Spirit Synopsis The greatest gift of the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit. The living God gives the gift of himself to those who are baptized. From the Spirit flow other gifts, some of which are for the our personal sanctification while others are for building up and support of the body of Christ. Many of the gifts are very familiar to us (wisdom, counsel, love) whiles others are somewhat foreign (healing, prophecy, tongues). Whatever our experience, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for all Christians, and no one should think that the gifts are not for them Key Texts CCC 11830 “These gifts are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit” Lume Gentium 4 “ He both equips and directs with hierarchial and charismatic gifts and adorns wit his fruits. Lumen Gentium 12 “These charismatic gifts, whether they be the most outstanding or the more simple…are to be received with thanksgiving and consolation.” Christifidesles Laici 21 “ The Church is directed and guided by the Holy Spirit, who lavishes diverse hierarchical and charismatic gifts on all the baptized” Additional Scripture: Isaiah 11: 2-3;1 Corinthians 12; Romans 8:26; 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11 |
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Discussion
Refection Come Holy Spirit. Take fifteen minutes of personal prayer time. For the first couple of minutes do your best to quiet yourself; gives to God whatever distractions you may have. Ask God to bring to life the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are present in you: the gifts received at baptism as well as new gifts with which God may want to bless you Be open- let God bless and anoint you. In the following days and weeks pray for a sensitivity to the movement of the Holy Spirit. It may be in a nudge to call someone to encourage someone. Someone may share with you that he or she is ill or has a loved one who is struggling; at that moment stop and pray for that person. The spirit himself is God’s gift par excellence. A gift from God, and in turn communicates dfferent spiritual gifts to those who welcome him. Pope Francis Be docile and open to the Spirit |