The Paraclete

This Sunday we are celebrating the Solemnity of Pentecost. This celebration has two important meanings for the Church.

First, we celebrate the fact that the Holy Spirit came over the college of Apostles and Jesus’ disciples 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Most Holy Trinity, that means He is God. Some people associate the Holy Spirit with a dove, but this is only a symbolism that is present in the Gospel, when Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan, “After Jesus was baptized, He came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for Him], and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon Him” (Mt. 3:16). Dove is not the only symbol of the Holy Spirit, we have water (Gen. 1:1-2), fire (Acts 2:3), wind (John 3:8), cloud (Ex. 19:9), light (Is. 60:19), and so on.

Second, we celebrate the birth of the Church. Before Pentecost, the Apostles were indoors because of fear of the Jews, but the Holy Spirit helped them to go out and proclaim the Good News of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without the Holy Spirit, the Church should not be capable to preach the Gospel and overcome all of the obstacles and crisis that she has been facing throughout history.

The Holy Spirit is not an energy, but He is God who is given us the capacity to recognize the presence of God in our lives. With the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, the Church has been celebrating the Eucharist. The real presence of Christ in the Holy Communion is possible because of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives life to the Church. We read in the book of Genesis how God breathed upon Adam and gave him life (cf. Gen. 2:7). This is what we said in our profession of faith, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.” If we want to live, we need to receive the Holy Spirit. We cannot disregard the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is real and is present in the life of the Roman Catholic Church. Let us ask always of the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray,

O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 years evangelizing!