a.What does it mean to be holy? The word “holy”
means “to be set apart”. And WE have been set apart by God and called for
unique mission. It is our goal, as Christians, to achieve holiness.
b.Part of achieving holiness is perseverance. Let
us hear more about the virtue of perseverance: CLICK ON ICON.
c.One thing all saints have is perseverance. They have
all moved forward, even in the toughest times. Do you struggle with pushing
forward when things are difficult?
II - How do
We Obtain Holiness? CLICK ON ICON
a.Love is what drives up to be the best version of
ourselves – which is what holiness is!
b.Is it possible to be holy? ABSOLUTELY. However,
it all comes down to YOU. As we have been discussing all year long, life is
about choices. We choose how we respond to the opportunities God gives us everyday
to love Him and be loved by Him.
III - Everything
is an Opportunity
a.EVERYDAY is an opportunity for all to achieve
holiness. How? In the small, ordinary, little things that we do/say. The
choices that we make shape us, and our relationship with God and others.
i.What
are some of the little actions you can do to come closer to holiness?
ii.When
was the last time you did something with great Love?
IV -Dream!
a.We all have free will and the ability to dream.
b.To dream goes beyond the question “what do you
want to be when you grow up?”. The ability to dream challenges you to use your
unique gifts and talents to see beyond what people say you can do, and have the
COURAGE to see what God has planned for you.
c.But it all comes down to YOU and what you choose
to do.
d.When you come back for your final year of
Confirmation preparation, I ask you: Will you come back knowing who God is in
your life? Will you come back knowing what you want God to do with you and for
you?
V - Do Not
Be Afraid!!!
Homework:
1. Part of achieving Holiness is learning perseverance. How do we receive this gift? 2. How do I Obtain Holiness?
3. What do our choices do for us when it comes to Holiness?
4. Does your Dreams include God in your journey? Please explain
5. Why should we remind ourselves of this message, "Do not be afraid"?
Pray for us, oh St. Patrick, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ! Amen!
1. We continue with the Gospel of St Mark 7:16-23, as the author writes the event down, giving us a picture of Jesus’ teaching on “What comes out from a person’s heart?”
When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.
2. Here, Jesus explains to His Disciples, and to us that ACTS OF VIRTUE, GOOD WORKS, DESIRES, and SENTIMENTS should come from our Heart. The 13 things Jesus mentions go contrary to the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
3. Like water can turn certain metals into rust, choosing to do wrong things can take us away from our Spiritual Journey from God.
II - The 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit - Valuable to your Spiritual Journey. (Part 2)
a. Long-Suffering - This fruit helps me by strengthening my patience during a long period of trails or suffering. The Holy Spirit gives it to you, even when you find no encouragement from a family member, a mentor, or a friend.
b. Mildness - Helps you to hold your anger. From moving towards an explosive rage.
c. Faith - One becomes faithful when you deal with family, friend, or neighbor.
d. Modesty - One moderates ones actions and attitudes towards others.
e. Continence - Self control when it comes to sexual temptations.
f. Chastity - Helps you to guard senses, so you will not fall into sin. We see the value of the human person as temples of the Holy Spirit.
1. Keep in mind, Jesus has taught us the value of ourselves and the people around us - how we should treat one another.
a. God brings to us the 10 Commandments: (Exodus 20:1-17)
b. God teaches us how our families must show us the value of the Commandments, summing them up into 2 Commandments. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:29-34)
c. Jesus teaches us the Beatitudes, which focus on the Commandments of God, and how we should be with others. (Matthew 5:3-12; Matthew 5:17-20)
LET US PRAY:
Prayer to receive the Holy Spirit - O King of Glory, send us the Promised of the Father, the Spirit of Truth. May the Counselor who proceeds from You enlighten us and infuse all truth in us, as you have promised
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear.
1. What were Jesus' words to His Disciples about what comes from a person's heart? Choose one of the Bible versus listed in "II:1" to answer this question.
2.. Prepare yourself in making a good Confession - See this Video and Answer the Following Questions
a. When you walk into a Confessional Room, what are the first words that you say to a Priest?
b. Why do we have to do penance?
c. What is the reason for making an Act of Contrition?
In the Gospel of St. Mark, Jesus teaches us the value of our gifts, and how it comes from our heart. The Author of the Gospel of St. Mark tells us the story from 7:1-15:
Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands? He responded, Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition. He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things. He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile."
When it comes to the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, how does this passage connect to our ACTS OF VIRTUE, GOOD WORKS, DESIRES, and SENTIMENTS?
I - How do we use the Fruits of the Holy Spirit in our life.
1. We all carry our Parent's teachings, and will soon pass it on to our children.
a. We also carry on the teachings of our Mentors, Authorities, Teachers, Sponsors, and People we admire. It is a good thing to listen and learn from them, but sooner or later, the teaching has to be revised, or modified to fit the Holy Spirit's Will in our lives.
b. When we are disconnected from God, when we are not speaking to H im in prayer, when we have not developed a relationship with Him through devotion, and allowing ourselves to be moved by His Grace through the Sacraments we received, we can easily be mislead, trust with uncertainty, abandon even our personal call (Vocation) for the sake of pleasing the people we consider important in our journey.
c. We enter into a false journey - one that leads us into different directions, events, or places that we can get lost. Sometimes it takes years for us to find our way out, years for us to forgive ourselves for past choices, or asking forgiveness for our failures, even forgiving those who hurt us badly. We become so lost that our experience misleads us to believe that God is not with me...
2. The Fruits of the Holy Spirit comes from the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit (See HIS STRENGTH WILL MAKE YOU DIFFERENT - Part 1 & Part 2)
a. The Fruits of the Holy Spirit encourage our Spiritual Development towards living out the Beatitudes (See Gospel of St. Matthew 5:1-12). It also helps us to avoid being mislead, even to find our way back to God.
b. Through the Sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and most especially Confirmation, you and I are connected to the Holy Spirit who inspires us to be VIRTUOUS, commit ourselves to GOOD WORKS, to live with the DESIRE to be Holy and Great, and that our THOUGHTS be for the good of others - including ourselves.
c. Jesus teaches us in the Gospel of St Mark that what comes out of persons heart can be evil - He is speaking about our choice to GO AGAINST GOD. But the teachings you receive and experience with time, and your relationship with God will help you to understand What enters your life by way of formation, and experiences, God's has given you His Grace to discern what is GOOD or BAD for you.
II - The 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit - Valuable to your Spiritual Journey.
1. Imagine a Tree that matures. This Tree represents the 7 Gift of the Holy Spirit. (See HIS STRENGTH WILL MAKE YOU DIFFERENT - Part 1 & Part 2)
a. When the Tree matures, it has the possibility of creating Seed bearing Fruit. The Fruit can be taken for nourishment, or cultivation to plant more Trees.
b.The Church see this as God's plan for the Church, and lives of the Saints.
2. The 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Benignity, Goodness, Long Suffering, Mildness, Faith, Modesty, Continence, andChastity. We will be discussing 6 of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
a. Charity - Also known as Love in Action. This Fruit moves us to act in love for God and His People.
b. Joy - Encourages us to be truly happy and always open to God's infinite goodness.
c. Peace - Born from Joy, and keep tranquil during challenges, and times of suffering.
d. Patience - Gives us endurance during difficult times in life and the suffering of death.
e. Benignity - Kindness and tolerance for all. It from the Fruit of Goodness, which encourage to do Good in word and in action.
f. Goodness - Moves us to do the good for all, without distinction.
In the documentary, AN EMPIRE CONQUERED, you find the story saints who showed examples of the Fruits of he Holy Spirit.
LET US PRAY:
Prayer to receive the Holy Spirit - O King of Glory, send us the Promised of the Father, the Spirit of Truth. May the Counselor who proceeds from You enlighten us and infuse all truth in us, as you have promised
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear.
Tonight is different Class, focused on the life of young girl who had a dream of becoming a famous. God would call her to different life. This is the story of Sr Clare Crockett.
Your homework for tonight, and for this week is to watch it with your family. Yes, you must watch it together. It is in English and in Spanish. You can even share it with you sponsor. But you and your parents must watch it, and answer the questions as this is part of your journey in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.
All or Nothing: In English
Todo O Nada: En Espanol
HOMEWORK #15 - Due Sunday
I - Confirmandi and Parents - It is very important that you join in this exercise. Together, please answer the questions, and submit them on the link below.
1. Lent is time focused on building our relationship with God through Prayer - this is what Sr. Clare try to practice:
a. Confirmandi - Where and when do you have time for Prayer? Have you put it into practice?
b. Parents - Do you make time to bring your family to pray for blessings? What are some of the things you have seen God do in your life, and in your child's life?
2. Lent is time of Sacrifice to better our relationship with God, with family, and with our neighbors - this is what Sr. Clare practiced:
a. Confirmandi - What do you think you need to let go to get closer to God?
b. Parents - What are things that get in your way to have deep with God, your family, ad your neighbor?
3. Lent is time of Giving to those who need - this is what Sr. Clare practiced:
a. Confirmandi - What gift or gifts you think God has given to you that you would like to share with people?
b. Parents - What do you imagine your child becoming in the future? What is your hope? How would you feel about the possibility of your child choosing a different Vocation/Future?
We continue with our class of Lesson 14 - His Strength Will Make You Different (PT1)
I - As we mentioned before, there are set of gifts that the Spirit of God puts into our soul - they are called the SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. In this lesson, we will learn about the remaining 3 Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.
1. The Gift of Knowledge - During our spiritual journey in preparation for Confirmation, you have been studying the teachings of the Church, the Sacred Scriptures (most especially the Book of the Acts of the Apostles), the Lives and writings of the Saints (Your Confirmation Patron Saint), while using your daily experiences, God continues to teach you Good from Evil - Right from Wrong. This gift is to help you do the Good & act on what is Right. The pursuit of knowledge, to better ones judgment of an object, a person, an event - anything that you encounter, show a strong connection you have with God.
a. This gift helps us to discern teachings, and teachers if they are telling the truth. It also urges us to search for the truth in order to protect and defend ourselves from false teachings. (Matthew 7:13-23)
b. The lesson of the Rich Young Man calls us to the attention of the use of our Knowledge. If I say, "I love God", then it should mean that you have sacrificed some thing or things to deepen that relationship. If you have not, it will show to those who hear your testimony, because your actions do not show this relationship with God is real. (Luke 18:8-30)
c. When we say, "I love God", it is believed that you follow His Commandments and Teachings, and try to put it into practice. (John 14:22-26)
2. The Gift of Piety - Another word for Reverence, which means to show the value or worth to an object, teaching, person, activity, an event, etc. When it comes to God, and His creations as well as inspirations, we are drawn to God by these. There is nothing wrong in acknowledging their value, since we believe they come from God. Piety is shown or exercised by how we place importance - like on a Sunday, I God to Mass not because I am told, but this urge to be close to God, to learn from God, and to love God. It looks like a PRACTICE, but it turns into a habit, a wanting, an action that comes from my heart and mind. Part of our Piety is connected to how we treat our parents, siblings, our teachers, and mentors, and people.
a. Jesus reminds us in the Prayer of the Our Father: God is First, our Neighbor is Second, we should be last, because we think of the other person who needs us. (Matthew 6:9-15)
3. The Gift of the Fear of the Lord - Also known as the experience of Wonder and Awe, helps me to avoid any chances I may have in offending or displeasing God. This extends to those who are close to us: Family, friends, our neighbors (It includes our enemies - are they really?), even life on this world (the pets in your care, the land, our natural surroundings, etc).
a. The Fear of the Lord helps me to recognize the value of our relationship with God and Neighbor. (Matthew 5:27-30)
b. The woman who lived a sinful life, searches for the Lord in order to change her life. (Luke 7:36-50)
II - Grace and Gifts are needed to know, love, and respond to God.
1. The Grace and Gifts given to us in Confirmation, help us to respond to God, and to His call to service. At the same time, my soul and body are transformed towards Him who saves me. This transformation continues to grow in me by way of my Worship, in other words, you look to Him as worthy for your surrender. I loving surrender, not as a slave who is forced, but one who freely gives God their life.The act of Worship is
a. Our participation and attention to Mass every Sunday, and weekday.
b. When we receive Him in Communion, and visit Him at Church before the Tabernacle or Monstrance at Holy Hour.
c. When we come to Him in the Sacrament of Confession - Monthly.
d. By following a structure of daily prayer: Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night, a Devotion, etc. We must be consistent in your prayer.
Let us pray:
O good Jesus: Word of Eternal Father, convert me.
Son of Mary, take me as her child.
My Master, teach me.
Prince of Peace, give me peace.
My Refuge, receive me.
My Shepherd, feed my soul.
Model of patience, comfort me.
Meek and humble of Heart, help me to become like you.
