DEACON MIKE'S REFLECTIONS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT

In our First Reading Luke describes Pentecost as an event of great wonders and miracles.Paul in the Second Reading tells us of the effects of the Holy Spirit. But in the Gospel of John, Jesus comes when the doors are locked because the Apostles are in fear and bestows his peace on them and “breathes” on the Apostles to impart the Holy Spirit.He breathes extraordinary spiritual life into them. They will now forgive sins as He did, work signs and wonders as He did, proclaim the Good News as He did and do the will of the Father. And what is the will of the Father – that all be saved.

The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church; the Spirit empowers the Church to manifest Jesus in this world by teaching truth and by sanctifying. If we believe in the Holy Spirit, we should see the Real Presence of the Holy Spirit in each person. Truly, we all are temples of the Holy Spirit. And the miracle of the Real Presence of Christ in the Sacraments should fill us with great wonder, awe, elation and devotion.                                                 Deacon Michael Zatarga