We are not alone.
We are not orphans.
Jesus gives us the Spirit, to make us sons and daughters of the Father, who makes us cry out, "Abba!"
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,
because it neither sees nor knows him.
The world does not see him or know him. But we see and know the Spirit and Jesus because they live in us and in the Father. The world does not see Jesus or the Spirit because it chooses not to be united with them. It was because we open our hearts to them that we are able to see them with our hearts.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed or crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.
We are sealed with the Spirit at Confirmation. By God's power unclean spirits are cast out from us and we receive the joy of the Holy Spirit. Jesus pours out his Spirit on us when the priest or the bishop lays hands on us just as Peter and John do for the people of Samaria. It is a real thing that happens. It is no mere ritual. We are united more perfectly to the body of Christ and receive power and gifts that enable us to act as mature members of the body, mature sons and daughters of God.
Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an explanation
to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,
but do it with gentleness and reverence,
keeping your conscience clear,
so that, when you are maligned,
those who defame your good conduct in Christ
may themselves be put to shame.
We have this Spirit living in us. He enables us to give witness. He empowers us to suffer joyfully for the kingdom of God. He is the very source of our new life. Do we experience this truth? Let us sanctify Christ in our hearts. Let us fan into flame the gift we have from the imposition of hands (see Seoncd Timoth 1:6).
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"
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