The primitive Church was a community founded on the teaching of the apostles (Acts 2:42). It was completely animated by the Holy Spirit who enlightened the believers to understand the Word, and gathered them together in charity around the Eucharist. Thus the Church grew into a multitude of believers who “were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32).It is Christ who gives us this divine fullness (cf. Col 2:9 f.) through the action of the Holy Spirit. Thus, filled with divine life, Christians enter and live in the fullness of the whole Christ, which is the Church, and through the Church, in the new universe which is gradually being constructed (cf. Eph 1:23; 4:12-13; Col 2:10). At the center of the Church is the Eucharist, where Christ is present and active in humanity and in the whole world by means of the Holy Spirit. St. John Paul II
McGuinness Center
8:30 pm
Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
We will read the following Gospel's together
in preparation for the Pentecost Sunday
John 14: 13-21 & John 20:19-31
Reflection Questions:
1. What struck you most in this passage? What did you notice that you hadn't noticed before?
2. Why do you think Christ insists so vehemently on loving him through obeying his command? Does that mean prayer and Sacraments don't really matter? How pleased do you think he is with how his disciples (throughout the ages) have responded to this insistence?
3. Why do you think Christ says that he will reveal himself to those who love him? Why wouldn't he reveal himself so that we would love him?
4. How can we take better advantage of the priceless gift of the Holy Spirit?
5. Why do you think Christ waited until eight days after Easter Sunday to appear to Thomas?
6. St. John puts Christ's conferral of peace on the apostles in the same sentence as "and he showed them his hands and his side". Do you see any connection between these two realities?
7. How would your faith change if Christ appeared to you physically, as he appeared to the apostles? What are the most meaningful signs God has already given to you personally that have made the most difference in your faith? How have you responded to these signs?
Further reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 539,1850, 1991,2087, 683-747, 232-248, 1076, 1086-1087, 731-741, 694-701, 1849-1851,1849-1851
From the Better Part:
