From the Pastor
Fr. Mike Comer shares his thoughts on Scripture, spirituality and the challenges of living the Gospel.
we rely on the holy spirit
May 25, 2025
The Advocate, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit
In the Gospel for today, Jesus refers to “another Advocate.” In Greek, the word He used was Paraclete, which was a word used for a defense attorney in a court of law. Jesus is our first Advocate, who stands with us in times of trial, giving us guidance and support and strength. This second Advocate is the Holy Spirit, which He will send upon His Church at Pentecost.
In our baptisms, and our confirmations, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus refers to the “Spirit of Truth, who leads you into all truth,” who will speak through us in our times of trial, who will make Him present throughout the ages. It is the Holy Spirit that changes bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit uses the priest to proclaim forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but it is the Spirit who accomplishes the forgiveness. It was the Spirit who inspired (inspirited) the Scripture writers so that they would write only what God wanted revealed to His people.
The Holy Spirit has been called the Soul of the Church. As the soul brings a human being to life, so the Spirit brings the Church to life. We will see in the next item, one dramatic way in which the Spirit worked in the early Church and continues to work in the Church today.
In our baptisms, and our confirmations, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus refers to the “Spirit of Truth, who leads you into all truth,” who will speak through us in our times of trial, who will make Him present throughout the ages. It is the Holy Spirit that changes bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit uses the priest to proclaim forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but it is the Spirit who accomplishes the forgiveness. It was the Spirit who inspired (inspirited) the Scripture writers so that they would write only what God wanted revealed to His people.
The Holy Spirit has been called the Soul of the Church. As the soul brings a human being to life, so the Spirit brings the Church to life. We will see in the next item, one dramatic way in which the Spirit worked in the early Church and continues to work in the Church today.
“It Is the Decision of the Holy Spirit
and Us….”
Our first reading for this Sunday gives us the conclusion of the Council of Jerusalem, that was called to deal with the Gentile problem. The great question that was threatening the unity of the Church was, “Do Gentile converts to Christianity have to become Jews in order to become Christian?” The Apostles and other leaders of the early Church had gathered in Jerusalem, including both St. Peter and St. Paul. There was a loud and powerful debate on this question, with Paul as the leader of those who said that the Gentiles do not have to become Jews to become Christians, for Christ had begun something new in the creation of His Church.
When they emerged with the decision, they made a remarkable statement, “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us….” They went on to explain their decision. What is so remarkable is that they felt confident that the decision was not just their opinion, but that the Spirit that Jesus had promised them, was in fact with them and showed them the truth of the matter.
Throughout history, the Church has believed in and counted on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that she would never fall into error in matters of faith and morals. All of the Church’s teachings on these matters come to us from the popes and bishops (who make up the Magisterium of the Church) and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we can count on those teachings as if they came from the mouth of Jesus Himself.
—Fr. Mike Comer
When they emerged with the decision, they made a remarkable statement, “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us….” They went on to explain their decision. What is so remarkable is that they felt confident that the decision was not just their opinion, but that the Spirit that Jesus had promised them, was in fact with them and showed them the truth of the matter.
Throughout history, the Church has believed in and counted on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that she would never fall into error in matters of faith and morals. All of the Church’s teachings on these matters come to us from the popes and bishops (who make up the Magisterium of the Church) and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we can count on those teachings as if they came from the mouth of Jesus Himself.
—Fr. Mike Comer
