Dear Class,
I am posting this on behalf of our Discussion Leader for the week; please see below. Blessings, Daniella
"The readings for this week intrigued me, because I was surprised to
discover how much the Catholic faith is in-tuned with the Presence of
the Holy Spirit. Even though I was raised Catholic, I have not practiced
the faith since I was 12.
Does anyone have a story about their personal experience with the Holy
Spirit? Jesus came to save our souls, but he also was the example of how
we as saints of God should behave. The author makes sure that we
understand our place in this world. We are supposed to love one another,
respect each other's position in life (as we are all brothers and
sisters in Christ), simply put; follow in the walk of of Christ. Too
often the "church", or the people of God, forget what we are all put on
this earth to do. Our lives are not our own. God does not respect a
person's title, sex, or religious affiliation.
The only part I was
concerned about was when the author spoke about Jesus being killed. It
is my understanding that Jesus was not killed, he gave up his life. In
John 19:32-34, Jesus gave up the Ghost before the soldiers could come
and break His legs in order for Him to die. What do you
think?"
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Class & Dr. Daniella,
ReplyDeleteI am in complete agreement with Simone as she posits The Holy Spirit at the forefront of Lofink’s important work. This is especially affirmed in the second section of Chapter three entitled, “The Presence of The Spirit,” wherein he describes the Spirit as “God’s gift to the eschatological community.” This is of major import in that it is the basis of the very foundation of the Church. The author reveals that Jesus, expressed in Joel 3:1-5 and Acts 2:17-21, came to create a new community, a new reality and “it is the Spirit who creates the new order” (pg 93), which entails the dismantling of any system which serves to separate the children of God, be it any kind of barrier, type of domination, or form of discrimination. This call to be a “contrast-society” stands in stark disparity with a history predicated upon the State-Church fusion of the Constantine era, successively leading up through the centuries to current manifestations of unholy alliance. While these assertions may appear harsh at first, I was persuaded to view them as the incredible challenges of a modern-day prophet, given his solid scriptural exegesis of the Jewish background (Old Testament milieu), the times of Jesus and His disciples (New Testament milieu), along with the writings of the early Church fathers (Origen, Tertullian, Augustine).
Followers today can embrace hope in light of the remarkable fact that the ancient Church was able to accomplish this. By their example we can have a faith that is once again Spirit-filled with wonders, with healing, with the miracle of a community that “both dies and rises with Christ” (147). Come Holy Spirit, Come.
Dear Class,
ReplyDeleteI was also intrigued Simone by Lohfink's section on the importance of the Holy Spirit in the early Church communities. In response to your question, I think the Holy Spirit is a guiding force in my everyday life, and I often find myself calling on the Holy Spirit for guidance, especially when it comes to managing tough situations! It seems this was also necessary for the early Christian communities. I was especially moved by the section in Lohfink on the Spirit. "It is impossible to discuss the self-understanding of the early church without considering its consciousness of the living presence of the Spirit in its midst" (82). I think this is a beautiful description of what the help of the Holy Spirit meant for the early church and their ministry.
In speaking of the early church's ministry with the healing of those who were sick I was struck by the holistic sense in which sickness was approached. "Many diseases are curable only if the environment of the sick person is also healed. An individual's illness is always the manifest wound of a sick society"(83). It was important for the early church to examine all aspects of a person's illness, including factors within the community that contributed to the sickness. "When the reign of God becomes present, its healing power must not only reach deeply into human corporeality but also extend deeply into the social dimension of human existence" (83). There is a sense here that the early church understood the importance of working with the whole person in bringing about healing both in sickness of the human body and sickness of society. I think there is a great deal that we can learn from studying this example of ministry.
Dear Rose,
ReplyDeleteThis is so right on that when I look at the enormous suffering all around me, there is a small, but powerful relief in knowing that in some way the sickness is not all about the individual and therefore, if the collective can accept responsibility for the cause, then perhaps the group can systemically accept the challenge for the healing. I look forward to that mighty time knowing that such awareness would impact many other areas of community consciousness that could only serve to welcome the in-breaking Kingdom of God which Jesus ushered in. On a personal note and in response to the inquiries of both you and Simone, I would like to briefly share a Spirit-filled healing of my own, because for me this reality is only accessible existentially.
For many years I performed full-time as a blue/jazz musician and the weekends called for travel and long, exhausting gigs. As the leader of the band I took every ride and sang every song. Then I was called back into music ministry and in the transition took on several Masses, including 8:00 am Sunday morning. There I would be alone in the sanctuary setting up again after only three hours sleep and without any pipes. Tore down, I would look up through the windows above the altar and say my little prayer, "God I can't even talk, so I surely can't sing, but I am here, I am your instrument, so send down your Spirit if You want to do this thing because You know I can't. To my amazement, on the downbeat I would open my mouth and a voice sweeter than my own would resonate forth...everytime. Since then folks have come to me asking how I (they) could have faith in God. I tell them that my belief comes not from abstract intellect, but from hard dues, from experience. I tell them a story about a soulful Sunday morning song.
Hi everyone!
ReplyDeleteAnd sorry for the delay... as I would be the one who went to attach mine earlier today and had read the wrong assignments. It took me a bit to get on the right page... :(
In response to Simone's post, I too was intrigued, yet informed of the Catholic's view of the Holy Spirit. Being raised in a different denomination, the Holy Spirit was referred to as the Holy Ghost. I was reminded within the readings that whether called the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost, it is the same presence which leads and guides us every day if we are willing. I agree with Rose... I couldn't make it without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That small voice that speaks into our inner souls telling us to go or to sit still. As stated within Acts, which is a prominent part of description of the Pentecost: "And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams..." (Scripture continues) Not only was this text used occurring within the community of Israel, but also to the living presence of all flesh today. This speaks so presently and powerfulyl to me... When reading, it is like I realized that this is a PROMISE He has made to us. The Holy Spirit SHALL, not will, be poured out upon us. There is such a powerful connection/linkage between the Holy Spirit within the Early Church and the living presence of the Spirit today.
I pray to always allow and seek the Holy Spirit to direct all that I do.
Hi Class,
ReplyDeleteIt was enlightening to read about the early Christian community. I get the sense that the Holy Spirit was with them in the shaping and forming of what being Christian meant for them at the time. I really liked how they were known for its hospitality and nonviolent attitude among other things. Lohfink describes this community as a “contrast-society,” which Walter pointed out. This truly reflects the idea that Christ's entering the world and dying for us changed everything. A point which Christians would have to defend themselves against the Jews who would argue nothing changed (175). Later, the author uses this quote which acknowledges that the Christian way of life is indeed exceptional, “discipleship means to sense the miracle of the reign of God and to pursue radically the path of Jesus, fascinated by the gift of a new possibility of human community” (180). I am impressed with the conviction the early Christians had to live according to their belief especially in contrast to all the social, religious, and other cultural norms of the ancient world. I am convinced the Holy Spirit was at work in and among these people. I have a feeling that my appreciation for church will grow as a result of the opportunity to learn and connect more with how it emerged.
Dear Friends,
ReplyDeleteI am delighted to enter into conversation with you; may God's Spirit animate and illuminate our digital conversation!
When I think of the role of the Spirit in the identity of the Church, one powerful metaphor for me is that of the body that Paul uses for the Church in 1 Corinthians 12. You may recall that the chapter begins with the work of the Spirit as manifest in spiritual gifts for the community, and then it goes on to present the Church as the body of many parts, working together. The Spirit animates this ecclesial body, it gives it life, and guides that life toward purpose and mission. I am also thinking of the scene of Pentecost from Acts 2: how the coming of the Spirit clarified the purpose, mission and task for those gathered in the upper room that day, and empowered them to get to it.
The Spirit in this sense gives the Church an identity that is active; an inner drive to life out loud the belief they hold in Jesus Christ.
So what does this mean for life and ministry? In one sense, the Spirit's animating presence is comfort: this mission, this task is not my own. It is God's, who empowers us in the Spirit to participate in this as each according to our gifts. What a relief this thought can be for ministerial burnout, and those feeling in a practical sense like the ministry is all on their shoulders.