Reflection Questions

• What in your life has alienated you from God?
• What in your life is preventing you from becoming closer to God?
• Do you have relationships with family, friends or coworkers that have become estranged or tense because of something that has occurred between you?
• Is there someone you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness?
• Talk or write to that person.

An Inside Look Into the Holy Spirit

Take a closer look inside the Holy Spirit and see how the Spirit works in us.

Determine which statement of the following pairs is correct. Be careful. Both statements may be correct.

1. a) The Holy Spirit came after Jesus
b) The Holy Spirit was here before Jesus.

2. a) The Holy Spirit is like a gentle mother.
b) The Holy Spirit is more like a Counselor

3. a) The Holy Spirit came like the wind.
b) Better than that, he came like fire.

4. a) The Spirit helps to keep you from sinning.
b) No way! Nothing can keep you from sinning.

5.a) The Holy Spirit teaches us about God.
b) Better than that, he guides us in life.

6. a) The Holy Spirit is an external force only.
b) The Holy Spirit lives inside every Christian

7. a) The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Knowledge.
b) Nope, the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth.

8. a) The fruits of the Spirit include love, peace, kindness, and faithfulness.
b) The fruits of the Spirit include gentleness, self control, and kind-ness.

9. a) God's Spirit gives me power to be just a bit better than the others.
b) God's Spirit gives me power to share my faith.

10. a) The Holy Spirit keeps bad things from happening to me.
b) The Holy Spirit shows me things that I am doing bad.

11. a) Sin will kill us.
b) The Holy Spirit helps destroy our sin and gives us life.

Answers: 1) a [John 16:7]; 2) b [John 14:16]; 3) a&b [Acts 2:2-3]; 4) a [Rom. 8:9]; 5) a&b [John 14:26, John 14:13]; 6) b [1Cor. 3:16]; 7) b [John 16:13]; 8) a&b [Gal. 5:22]; 9) b [Acts 1:8]; 10) b [John 16:8-11]; 11) a&b [Rom. 8:13]

How do we do the right thing?

Human beings abuse one another verbally, physically, and sexually. We steal and kill. We lie and break promises. We are unkind to one another. We ignore the sufferings of other people. We are blind to the delicate balance of nature, and treat nature as though it exists purely for human use. We do have praiseworthy and noble things about us, but there is evidently some flaw in us. What is wrong with us? The answer is Sin.

We make light of sin because society does, but sin is a serious thing. The sin of self-deception has led us to believe many things because society has made them acceptable. Television and movies depict actions and attitudes as acceptable that the serious disciple recognizes as sin. The government legitimizes issues by making them legal. We make excuses for questionable actions and attitudes because living a Christian life is hard. Life would be easier if we could allow ourselves to choose the easy way out which is why we often choose to sin. How do we do the right thing? Follow your conscience and heed what the Holy Spirit reveals to you. In instances where you disagree with the Church, examine why you believe or feel certain things and why the Church takes the position that it does. Really examine why you feel a certain way. Why does the Church take the stance that it does. Look at the Church's reasoning before you decide that you don't agree with it. If you don't know the answer, research the issue in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You may conclude that you agree.