Coming of the Advocate

In today’s Gospel, Jesus promised His disciples that He will ask the Father to send them an Advocate – someone to teach, to help and to guide them. Just as Jesus proclaimed Himself as the Truth, the Advocate who will be sent is the Spirit of Truth, who will be with them and in them always. And that is one of the things which the Holy Spirit does; to dwell in and among us so that we can continually have a relationship with Christ.

In the bible, the Holy Spirit played a significant role in three births: the birth of the world, the birth of Jesus and the birth of the Church. The Book of Genesis mentions that the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters when the world was created (Gen1:2). In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel said to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God (Lk1:35).” The Acts of the Apostles records that day of Pentecost when a mighty wind filled the house and tongues of fire rested on each one of the apostles; they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues (Ac2:1-4). Similarly, the Holy Spirit plays a significant role in the birth of every Christian in baptism, whereby a person is reborn in water and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is indeed, as we profess in the Creed, the Lord the Giver of Life. Not only does the Holy Spirit give divine life in baptism, the Holy Spirit also draws people to Christ and unites them in Him.

How is our relationship with Christ? Is it better, good, bad or worse? Perhaps our biggest obstacle is the presumption that our current relationship with Christ is enough. The most straightforward way to improve a relationship is to take the time and effort to really know someone. Do we merely know things about Jesus, or do we really know Him to the point of being spiritually intimate with Him? Intimacy with Christ becomes possible when we have gone through the experience of sharing with Him our joys and sorrows, hopes and anxieties, successes and failures in life.

To know Jesus is to love Jesus, and this knowing and loving is a life-long undertaking; without a doubt, it is the most important and worthwhile thing that we can ever do in life. We have been reborn in the Spirit at baptism, may we allow the Holy Spirit to continue the work of Christ in us, so that we may not only have life, but to live it fully.

Fr. Bill extends his sincere thanks to parishioners and benefactors for their support especially during this difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your contributions have made it possible for our church to operate to the extent that we are able, as well as to be ready to welcome you and the rest of our parishioners back to church as soon as we have permission to open our doors again.

Fr. Bill also thanks all the church members who have been helping with the production of PowerPoint© videos of our Sunday Masses online, volunteers who helped organize the storage areas in the church, and church members who have been helping with the maintenance of our church grounds and repairs of our church property.

Let us offer prayers for parishioners whose health have been affected, and those who have lost their main source of income during this difficult time; may this pandemic soon come to an end!

At this time we are still awaiting an announcement from Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer on the reopening of churches in Atlanta. As we take sensible measures to protect everyone from the spread of the coronavirus, be assured that our church community is here to help if you have material or spiritual needs. Private Masses will continue to be offered for your intentions. If you need to go to confession or for all other requests, please contact Fr. Bill.

Sunday Mass videos will continue to be uploaded to our church website and Facebook page. Please share with your friends. All are welcome to participate in spirit!

Our church has a supply of bread. If you would like to take some home, please come to the church Monday thru Friday from 1 to 4 pm.

Sign up now for Mass intentions for May and June 2020. Please check the available dates and use the digital form in our church website.