The Mission of the Holy Spirit Scripture Passage It is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7) Church teaching and commentary St. Cyril of Alexandria (378-444) once wrote: “After Christ had completed His mission on earth, it still remained necessary for us to become sharers in the divine nature of the Word; i.e., we had to…
4th of July BBQ Our Fourth of July BBQ this year will be held in our church parking lot. Everyone is welcome to join us and share two hours of fun, networking, entertainment and food from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. We will prepare hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon and corn. Participants are welcome to bring their own picnic chairs and side dishes to share. There event is free, goodwill donations are welcome. In order for us to prepare the right…
The Sending of the Holy Spirit Jesus said to His disciples, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name — He will teach you everything and…
The Way of Christ Jesus said to His disciples, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) What does it mean that Jesus is the Way? The disciples of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch (cf. Acts 11:26); back then and now, to be called a Christian meant that one is a follower of Christ. But even before the term “Christian” was used, the followers of…
The day before Mother’s Day is the feast day of Our Lady of China, the name given to Mary when she appeared to God’s beloved children in Donglu, China in 1900: “…A woman in white appeared above the settlement, and the rioters’ bullets were aimed at her. When the apparition did not fade, attackers had not even time to reorganize because a strange horseman put them to flight.” The Mother of Christ appeared in China showing herself as the protector…
The Sending of the Holy Spirit Scripture Passages Jesus said to His disciples, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name — He will teach you…
The Good Shepherd’s Flock Why did Jesus say that He is the Good Shepherd in John 10? John 10 is a continuation of John 9; therefore, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees who spoke against Him after He cured the man born blind on a Sabbath. Jesus likens the Pharisees as thieves and robbers – those who do not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but climb over to get to the sheep; they also come only to steal and…
The Breaking of Bread What does “breaking of bread” mean? According to Jewish custom, communal meals began with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God over a loaf of bread, which was then broken and given to the participants. This “breaking of bread” is a special rite with fraternal and religious significance. The Gospels tell us that Jesus “broke bread” with His disciples, especially at the Last Supper. On the night before He offered Himself as Sacrifice on the…
The Breaking of Bread What does “breaking of bread” mean? According to Jewish custom, communal meals began with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God over a loaf of bread, which was then broken and given to the participants. This “breaking of bread” is a special rite with fraternal and religious significance. The Gospels tell us that Jesus “broke bread” with His disciples, especially at the Last Supper. On the night before He offered Himself as Sacrifice on the…
What is Faith? For Christians, what is faith? Faith is a personal adherence of man to God; i.e., a person has a relationship of attachment and commitment with God. At the same time, faith is a free assent to everything that God has revealed; i.e., a person approves and agrees freely with everything that God has revealed. (cf. CCC 150) For a Christian, faith means believing in Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of God — the One sent by God…