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One Bread, One Body - Reflection for September 2, 2008

THE SCHOOL OF THE SPIRIT

"The Spirit scrutinizes all matters, even the deep things of God." –1 Corinthians 2:10

Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to teach us (Jn 14:26). The Spirit teaches us:

  1. "what lies at the depths of God" (1 Cor 2:11),
  2. "to recognize the gifts He has given us" (1 Cor 2:12),
  3. words in which to speak of these gifts (1 Cor 2:13),
  4. how to appraise everything (1 Cor 2:15), and
  5. how to have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).

Without the Holy Spirit, we can't know the Father, the Son, ourselves, or anyone else. We don't even know how to talk or think. Without the Spirit, we are so out of touch with reality that we consider the most profound truths absurd (1 Cor 2:14).

Most of you reading this have the Spirit within you, so you are temples of the Spirit. However, the Spirit can move much more powerfully and freely than you have allowed Him so far. "For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God bestowed when my hands were laid on you. The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly Spirit, but rather One That makes us strong, loving, and wise" (2 Tm 1:6-7).

PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit. Renew my Confirmation.
PROMISE: "He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they leave." –Lk 4:36
PRAISE: It wasn't until Rick fully accepted the grace of his Confirmation that the Holy Spirit brought his life into focus.

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Acknowledgement

Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:

· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College