I have a great fear of stairs

 

I just always feel they are up to something

 

 

  All of us of course do have many fears. The disciples of Christ that he was speaking to in this gospel story were certainly no exceptions.

 

  What he told them was important to them, and us today as well.

 

St. John 15:26 “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me : and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

 

   In today's Gospel lesson Jesus is speaking to his disciples in the upper room the night before his crucifixion.

 

He knew how weak and timid they were. He knew they had often not really understood him and his work.

 

  He of course would appear to them after his resurrection, to strengthen and explain to them that, “It behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations”.

 

After that, he would withdraw his visible presence, (with his Ascension to heaven), and he knew his disciples would need help if they were to witness effectively in a world so hostile to the Christian message.

 

   Christ's promise of the Comforter would be fulfilled at Pentecost, and a marvelous change would come over his disciples.

 

  The Holy Spirit was to guide them to the truth, and made them able to carry on the great work of witnessing to the world of God's great work of Redemption through Christ's sacrifice.

 

  That help would also keep them from being discouraged at the size of the task before them.

 

  The prophet Zechariah 4:6 said “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts”.

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  With the help of the Holy Ghost those weak and timid disciples were then able to begin the work of the Church and spread Christ's message throughout the world.

 

   As it was with those first disciples, so it is with Christians today in a world still hostile to the Christian message.

 

  God's Holy Spirit can give each of us today the ability to be a successful witness to the rest of mankind.

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  The Holy Spirit can keep us today from being discouraged, despite any hardships we may face, that each of us may testify of Our Savior Jesus Christ's atoning work to those we come in contact with.

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  We need as Christians to always be asking in prayer for the Holy Spirit's assistance, that we each can do our part, to help build his Church, and bring all nations and all people to Christ's saving love.

 

Let us pray

 

O GOD, our Heavenly Father, who didst manifest thy love by sending thine only-begotten Son into the world that all might live through him ; pour thy spirit upon thy Church that it may fulfil his command to preach the Gospel to every creature ; send forth, we beseech thee, labourers into thy harvest ; defend them in all dangers and temptations ; and hasten the time when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and all Israel shall be saved ; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen