Lesson IV Recap

Well, week four is come and gone; we're a third of the way through already! Let's recap week four, covering chapters 9-12.

Chapter Nine:

Chapter Nine discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church and believers. Jesus says in John 16:7, "I tell you the sober truth: It is much better for you that I go. If I fail to go, the Paraclete will never come to you, whereas if I go, I will send Him to you."

Remarkable that Jesus thought our receiving the Holy Spirit was more important to us than Jesus remaining on earth. Our need for the Holy Spirit is so critical to our lives that Jesus died for Him to be sent. Ponder this...Is the Holy Spirit this important to you? My prayer for you is that He is this important.

Also, the Holy Spirit is the One who guides the Church into all truth, whereby all the doctrines of the Church regarding her infallibility in faith and morals, her indestructibility and indefectability. The Holy Spirit resides in the Church as a temple, the one who make the sacraments so efficacious. Without the Holy Spirit, we have NO SACRAMENTS AT ALL.

Our relationship to the Holy Spirit is indispensable. We must cultivate a sensitivity to His leading, guard our hearts and lives so as not to frustrate or grieve Him. We are to be filled with the Spirit by our reciting and singing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, our prayers, both the prayers of the Church and our own mental prayers. We are to walk with Him, stand in Him, allow Him to move and motivate us to do God's will. Be not afraid, God the Holy Spirit is with you!

Chapter Ten and Eleven:

These chapters were combined into one segment Thursday evening due to time. Ten deals with the Church as the light and reflection of Christ and the Holy Trinity. The activity of the Holy Spirit spills into the life and work of the Church. The Church is a sacramental of the Holy Trinity. The Church was born out of the precious bleeding side of Jesus, when Longinus thrust the spear into Christ's side after he expired. From the cross, the living Church came forth from the side of our dead Savior. Sobering, inspiring love and gratitude within us, eh?

Therefore, the Church, which is both human and divine, becomes the saving agent for the human race. Any salvation that comes to humankind, comes through the activity of the Church and her members. Amazing the mystery of God, that he would choose a lowly people, in ourselves, unable to do anything for ourselves let alone others. Yet, with the sacrifice of Jesus, and the power he provides us in the gift of the Holy Spirit, we participate in Christ's Mandate. Again, sobering and awe-inspiring!

Chapter Eleven covers the four marks of the Church, which are realities we can bank on, yet are a challenge we must continue to maintain in our lives. The marks are:

1. One
2. Holy
3. Catholic
4. Apostolic

1. One: the Church is one since she reflects the unity of the Trinity in whose life she shares. There is no alternative Gospel, or a democratic choosing of Truths. As God is One, so is His Church.

2. Holy: the Church is Holy because her origin is from the Trinity, who is holy. Though the Church is both human and divine, God allows his graces to flow to us through his members, however flawed we are.

3. Catholic: Like friendship bread, though passed from person to person, to whatever location on earth, or to whatever time period in the future, if the recipe remains the same, the bread is the same, no matter when or where. This is how the Church is Catholic. Her identity is in the Holy Trinity. Her life, no matter what century or continent, is a share of the nature of the Holy Trinity. That would mean that the Trinity is Catholic. Jesus Christ is Catholic; the Eucharist as his flesh and blood, baptism for the remission of sins, every thing that is Catholic is such because Jesus is Catholic, the Father is Catholic, the Holy Spirit is Catholic. Everything Catholic is God's idea. Who are we to argue, right?

Next week:

We will be looking at chapters 12-14, with the emphasis being on fourteen, "Celebrating the Paschal Mystery." We will be going over the Virgin Mary's role in the Church, and will also see her action in the Paschal mystery. You will not want to miss this important lesson next week!
God bless!!!!

Just Another Beggar